
E. coli (short for Escherichia coli) are bacteria that normally live in the intestines of humans and animals. Although most strains are harmless, several are known to produce toxins that can cause diarrhea. These toxin producing strains are called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). One example from this group is a strain known as O157:H7 which can cause severe diarrhea and kidney damage. Anyone of any age can become infected with STEC but the very young and the elderly are more likely to develop serious complications.



How is it spread in our home?
E. coli can be spread to playmates by toddlers who are not toilet trained or by adults who do not wash their hands carefully after changing diapers. Children can pass the bacteria in their stool to another person for 2 weeks after they have gotten well from an
E. coli O157:H7 illness. Older children and adults rarely carry the bacteria without symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptoms are severe bloody diarrhea and stomach cramps. In some cases, the infection causes non-bloody diarrhea. Usually little or no fever develops.
However, in some people, espeically children under the age of five and the elderly, E. coli infection can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition in which the red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. In the U.S., E. coli related HUS is the main cause of kidney failure among children. The death rate for HUS is 3-5 percent.
What can I do to prevent infection?
Using T&T Home Detailed Cleaning services to clean and sterilize your kitchen food preparation areas as well as your toilet could be one of the best way to prevent E. coli Infection.
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