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Although most Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains are harmless — they live in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, helping the body to absorb certain vitamins—some strains can have severe health effects. E. coli food poisoning can give a person severe, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. A low-grade fever may develop, along with nausea and vomiting. A serious case of food poisoning from E. coli strain O157:H7 can cause a person to have 10 or more bowel movements a day, consisting nearly entirely of blood.
Click here to consult with an attorney to learn more about your rights if you or someone you loved developed E. coli food poisoning.
Illnesses, Deaths
It's the virulent strains of E. coli that have caused outbreaks—often due to contaminated products such as fast food, hamburgers, vegetables, and water. About 75,000 people become ill from E. coli food poisoning each year after being infected with the E. coli strain O157:H7 in the U.S. For example, a 2006 outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 from baby spinach caused more than 200 people to become ill, and resulted in three deaths (a two-year-old boy and two elderly women).
Symptoms of E. coli Food Poisoning
The symptoms and signs of E. coli food poisoning usually start three or four days after someone consumes a food or fluid contaminated with the E. coli bacteria — although cases have been confirmed in which the symptoms showed up as early as one day and as long as one week after exposure. The symptoms may include:
E. coli O157:H7 produces a toxin that damages the small intestine's lining, leading to severe, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
If your E. coli food poisoning causes severe diarrhea, the resulting significant loss of body fluids and electrolytes should be treated immediately with fluid replacement.
"Travelers' Diarrhea"
Another strain of E. coli, called enterotoxigenic E. coli, is responsible for most cases of "travelers' diarrhea," which many travelers don't recognize as E. coli food poisoning. It's the same E. coli strain that causes millions of cases of diarrhea and dehydration in children in developing nations, many of which have inadequate supplies of clean water.
Risk of Kidney Failure
Although most people recover from E. coli food poisoning within five to 10 days, some populations are vulnerable to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in which the lining of the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys is damaged, sometimes leading to kidney failure. Children under five years old, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk of developing HUS after contracting E. coli food poisoning.
If Food Poisoning Has Caused You Harm
E. coli food poisoning can leave you with long-lasting bowel trouble, missed work time and wages, and significant medical bills. If you or a family member has suffered losses or damages from this serious illness, consult an experienced food poisoning attorney to discuss your legal options.
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Recall of Contaminated Food
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