Patient education: E. coli diarrhea (The Basics)

What is E. coli? — 

These are bacteria that live in the digestive systems of animals and people (figure 1). Everyone has them, and they do not usually cause problems. But there are different types of E. coli, and some cause infection. You can get E. coli infection by eating or drinking something with the bacteria in it. The infection can also spread from person to person.

E. coli infection usually happens in the digestive system. This causes diarrhea and other symptoms. But E. coli can sometimes cause illness if it gets into areas of the body where it does not normally live. For example, it can cause a urinary tract infection if it gets into the urinary tract.

What are the symptoms of E. coli infection? — 

The symptoms of E. coli infection of the digestive system include:

●Diarrhea – This can be watery or bloody, and mild or severe.

●Belly pain

●Vomiting – This is more common in children infected with 1 specific type of E. coli.

E. coli that causes bloody diarrhea sometimes also causes problems with the kidneys or blood. This is not common, but can be serious.

Will I need tests? — 

Most people do not need tests for E. coli. But your doctor or nurse might want to do:

●Tests on a sample of your bowel movements

●Blood tests

You might also get tests to check for problems with your kidneys or blood if necessary.

How is E. coli infection treated? — 

Many people do not need any specific treatment.

Diarrhea from E. coli is not usually treated with antibiotic medicines. With some types of E. coli that cause diarrhea, antibiotics might actually make the illness worse. But if E. coli causes symptoms in other parts of your body, you might need antibiotics.

Losing a lot of water through diarrhea can lead to "dehydration." People who get dehydrated might need fluids through an "IV." This is a thin tube that goes into a vein. This treatment is usually given in the hospital.

What can I do on my own to feel better? — 

If you have diarrhea, you can:

●Drink plenty of fluids – When you have a lot of diarrhea, your body loses both water and salt. Drinking fluids that contain some salt can help replace what your body lost. Examples include "oral rehydration solutions" or broth.

●Eat a little food if you feel hungry – Good choices are potatoes, noodles, rice, oatmeal, crackers, bananas, soup, and boiled vegetables. Salty foods help the most.

Ask your doctor or nurse before you take any over-the-counter medicines for diarrhea. If you have E. coli infection, some of these medicines can be harmful.

Can E. coli infection be prevented? — 

To reduce your chances of getting and spreading E. coli, you should:

●Wash your hands after changing diapers, cooking, eating, going to the bathroom, taking out the trash, or touching animals (figure 2).

●Stay home from work or school until you feel better, if you get diarrhea.

●Pay attention to food safety. Here are some tips:

•Do not drink unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made with it.

•Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating them.

•Keep the refrigerator colder than 40°F and the freezer below 0°F.

•Cook meat and seafood until well done.

•Cook eggs until the yolk is firm.

•Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after they touch raw food.

For more tips on food safety, see the table (table 1).

When should I call the doctor? — 

See your doctor or nurse if you have:

●More than 6 runny bowel movements in 24 hours

●Bloody diarrhea

●A fever higher than 101.3°F (38.5°C) that does not go away after a day

●Severe belly pain

●Diarrhea or fever, and are age 70 or older

●Signs of dehydration, such as:

•Lots of very watery diarrhea

•Feeling very tired

•Thirst

•Dry mouth or tongue

•Muscle cramps

•Dizziness, especially when you stand up

•Confusion

•Very yellow urine, or not urinating for longer than 5 hours

More on this topic

Patient education: Diarrhea in teens and adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Diarrhea in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Hypovolemia in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Dehydration in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Travelers' diarrhea (The Basics)
Patient education: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Bland diet (The Basics)

Patient education: Acute diarrhea in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Acute diarrhea in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: General travel advice (Beyond the Basics)