E. coli infection has many types and most of them are harmless. However, some of those types may cause bloody diarrhea, anemia or kidney failure what additionally leads to death. This infection lives in the digestive tracts of humans and animals and in most cases attacks unexpectedly. E. coli infection is usually spread by feces of humans or animals. To be more precise, E. coli infects when you drink water or eat food that has been contaminated by feces.
The most common way people become infected with E. coli is the meat. To kill the bacteria that has gotten into meat, you must cook it to 160°F (71°C) – otherwise it will survive and infect you. Besides, it’s highly recommended washing your hands after being in contact with raw meat. Other foods that pose the risk of E. coli are:
• Raw milk or dairy products. To make sure that you are safe from E. coli, use only pasteurized dairy products that have been heated to destroy bacteria.
• Fruits and vegetables, such as lettuce, Brussels sprouts, or unpasteurized juices that may have come in contact with infected animal feces.
You should also keep in mind that feces infected with E. coli may get into lakes, pools, and water supplies through infected human or animals. Besides, bacteria can also be spread through unwashed infected person’s hands to other people or objects.
If you have been infected with E. coli O157:H7, experts advice paying attention to these symptoms:
Bloody diarrhea;
Stomach cramps;
Nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms usually start 3 or 4 days after people come in contact with the E. coli and stop after about a week. However, people often don’t see a doctor , so they don’t know that E. coli caused their problems. If you are facing these symptoms now, contact your family doctor immediately.