National Law Firm Representing E. coli Victims
Prevention of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Since most cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) develop due to E. coli food poisoning, preventing E. coli infection is the best way to prevent HUS.
Cook Meat Thoroughly
One of the most common causes of E. coli O157:H7 infections is by eating undercooked ground beef. Because of this, it is important to cook your meat, and especially ground beef well. When cooking, use a digital instant-read meat thermometer, making sure that the inside is at least 160º Fahrenheit. It is possible for ground beef to be cooked until brown and not be cooked well enough to kill E. coli bacteria that may be present.
If you are served and undercooked hamburger or ground beef product at a restaurant, send it back for a thorough cooking. Don't hesitate to ask for a clean plate and new bun. The restaurant wants you to get ill as much as you do, so don't feel bad sending food back.
Prevent Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and E. coli Infection in Your Kitchen
There are several simple things that can be done in the kitchen to prevent the spread of E. coli. You should always keep raw meats separate from ready-to-eat foods. Also, cooked food should never be placed on an unwashed plate that held raw meat. Wash your hands, counters, and utensils with hot, soapy water after touching raw meat. After measuring the temperature of your meat to make sure it is thoroughly cooked, wash your meat thermometer before testing any other food products.
Drink Only Pasteurized Milk, Juice, or Cider
Commercial juice in boxes and vacuum-sealed juice in glass containers has been pasteurized even though it may not say it on the label. Juice concentrates are heated sufficiently enough to kill pathogens.
Wash Fruits and Vegetables
You should wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially if they are not cooked before eating. Recent research has found that E. coli bacteria can migrate into the leaves of spinach and lettuce. When that happens, washing the leaves will not wash away the E. coli.
Contact with Sick Family Members
The risk of spreading E. coli infection can be reduced by ensuring that people with diarrhea (especially children) wash their hands carefully with soap after bowel movements. Hands should always be washed after changing diapers. Anyone with diarrhea should not swim in public pools or lakes, share baths with others, or prepare foods for others.
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Prevention if Already Infected with E. coli
There is no known method of reducing the possibility of an E. coli infection developing into HUS. It does appear that aggressive and early treatment of severe E. coli infections may reduce the amount of toxin-producing bacteria in the body, thus lowering the risk or HUS.
This information about hemolytic uremic syndrome and E. coli was provided by Pritzker | Ruohonen, a nationally-recogninzed law firm in the area of food borne illness lawsuits. If you or someone you love has become seriously ill from an E. coli infection or any other food borne illness, please contact an E. coli attorney for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and remedies. Please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online consultation form for review by an E. coli lawyer at the firm.
Diagnosis of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
To confirm the presence of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), there are several laboratory tests that can be performed. A complete blood count (CBC) positive for HUS could show decreased platelet count, rupture of red blood cells, hemolytic anemia or elevated white blood cell count. A urinalysis may also be performed. Positive results could show blood in the urine or protein in the urine.
Blood chemistry tests such as chem-20 may show abnormalities such as elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN), elevated creatinine, and elevated free hemoglobin. Blood coagulation tests such as PT or PTT may be performed as well. PT and PTT measure the amount of time it takes for the blood to clot. Since platelets are destroyed by HUS, the blood would take longer to clot for someone with HUS.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health have an excellent directory of medical information called Medline Plus. It has more information on the specific treatments of HUS.
Pritzker | Ruohonen has a national practice and represents E. coli victims throughout the United States. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online contact form.
Treatment of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Typical treatment for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) simply involves maintaining the proper salt and water levels in the body to prevent other problems. However, if HUS progresses, a red blood cell infusion may be needed to make up for the cells destroyed by HUS. Severe cases may require dialysis.
If kidney damage is severe and permanent kidney failure develops, long-term dialysis or a kidney transplant may be necessary.
There has been some research that found that limiting protein in the diet, treating high blood pressure with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), or immunoglobulin G intraveneously may delay or prevent kidney failure.
About 85% of children who develop HUS fully recover. However, the mortality rate is between 5-15%, so the earlier HUS is recognized and treatment begins, the better.
Pritzker | Ruohonen has a national practice and represents E. coli victims throughout the United States. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online contact form.
Symptoms of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) usually results from an infection of E. coli O157:H7. So before actual symptoms of HUS appear, one first sees the symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection, most notably the presence of bloody diarrhea. Bloody diarrhea is present in 90 percent of cases of HUS caused by E. coli O157:H7. Other symptoms include abdominal pain or non-bloody diarrhea, typically in the absence of any fever. Typical infections end after 5 to 10 days.
If HUS does develop, it may show its first signs up to a week after digestive problems associated with a typical E. coli infection. According to the National Institute of Health's National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, the first symptoms of HUS are general paleness, tiredness and irritability. Other signs may include unexplained small bruises or bleeding from the nose or mouth. This bleeding is due to platelet (cells which help blood to clot) destruction by the verotoxins produced by the E. coli O157:H7.
Another symptom is a decrease in urine output or the appearance of red urine. The lack of urine is due to damaged red blood cells clogging the blood vessels in the kidneys. This in turn makes it much more difficult for the kidneys to remove waste and fluid from the blood. Because the kidneys fail to function correctly with HUS, the buildup of fluid and waste can cause high blood pressure and swelling of the face, hands, feet or entire body.
If you notice any of these symptoms, especially the unexplained bleeding and bruises or lack of urine and swollenness, please contact your doctor immediately.
Pritzker | Ruohonen has a national practice and represents E. coli victims throughout the United States. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online contact form.
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
General Information
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)is a disease that results in red blood cell destruction (microangiopathic hemolytic anemia), low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), and can eventually result in kidney failure (renal failure).
There are three main types of HUS. The most infamous type is that which results from bloody diarrhea caused by E. coli O157:H7 infections, primarily infections in children under the age of 5 and the elderly. HUS occurs in less that 7% of E. coli O157:H7 cases.
There is also a form of adult HUS that is a rare side effect of HIV, antiphospholipid syndromoe, post partum renal failure, malignant hypertension, sclerodema, and cancer chemotherapy.
The third form of HUS is Familial HUS which is due to a genetic defect that leads to the uncontrolled activation of the complement system (a part of both the innate and acquired immune response that helps destroy pathogens).
There has been a lot of concern that the use of antibiotics to treat E. coli infections can in fact cause an increased risk for HUS. A 2000 study by Wong et. al. (The risk of the hemolytic-uremic syndromoe after antibiotic treatment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections) reported that there did appear to be an increased risk of developing HUS if treated with antibiotics. However, a more recent study that compiled research on HUS and E. coli O157:H7 antibiotic treatment by Safdar et. al. (Risk of hemolytic uremic syndromoe after antibiotic treatment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 enteritis: a meta-analysis) found that there was in fact on apparent statistical increase of HUS infections when antibiotics were used for E. coli O157:H7.
For information about E. coli, please see the following:
Pritzker | Ruohonen has a national practice and represents E. coli victims throughout the United States. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online contact form.
E. coli O157:H7 Symptoms
Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 usually begin to show 2 to 8 days after exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms often include severe bloody diarrhea or abdominal cramps without a fever. Sometimes non-bloody diarrhea or even no symptoms occur. The illness typically subsides after 5 to 10 days.
In high risk patients such as the elderly and children under 5 years, infection with E. coli O157:H7 can cause a very severe complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is caused by a toxin produced by the E. coli known as shiga-like toxins. These toxins destroy red blood cells and can cause kidney failure.
Symptoms of HUS may not occur until a week after typical E. coli symptoms occur. Signs can include small bruises or bleeding from the nose that are unexplained. Another common symptom is a reduction in urine output, which is a result of kidney malfunction. Urine may also appear red. The lack of urine can in turn cause high blood pressure or swelling of the face, hands, feet or entire body.
If you would like more information on E. coli O157:H7 and its symptoms, see the CDC website. Another good website is the National Institute of Health website.
Pritzker | Ruohonen has a national practice and represents E. coli victims throughout the United States. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online contact form.
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