Signs and Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms?

• People usually get sick from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) 2-8 days (average of 3-4 days) after swallowing the germ.
  • Most people infected with STEC develop diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps.
  • Most people recover within a week.
• Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe, resulting in a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
  • HUS can occur in people of any age but is most common in young children under 5 years, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
  • Symptoms of HUS can include fever, abdominal pain, pale skin tone, fatigue and irritability, small, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose and mouth, and decreased urination.
  • People who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.
• STEC infection is usually diagnosed by testing a stool sample.