Escherichia coli, often abbreviated E. coli, is a bacterium found primarily in the digestive system. In fact, it is part of the "normal" intestinal flora and, in most cases, it is beneficial and not dangerous. However, some strains can cause severe bacterial infections, causing diarrhea and sometimes kidney failure. While there are no specific treatments for the infection, there are steps you can take to avoid dehydration and relieve symptoms.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Killing the E. Coli
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms
This bacterium mainly affects the gastrointestinal tract of adults. It can cause liquid diarrhea or, in severe cases, even bloody diarrhea which can lead to other complications, such as kidney failure. It is easier to become infected when traveling to geographic areas where hygienic conditions are precarious than in industrialized countries, as it is transmitted by the fecal-oral route through contaminated water and food. Symptoms of the infection include:
- Abdominal pain;
- Nausea and / or vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Fever;
- Abdominal cramps.
Step 2. Find out about the correct treatment
You need to know that E. coli infection is not curable (and it is not possible to kill the bacterium) with traditional medications, such as antibiotics or antidiarrheals. More than anything else, the treatments that are offered by health facilities are "supportive" and consist of rest, fluid intake and medications to manage symptoms, such as pain and / or nausea.
- Many people may think this is counterintuitive, as they often expect drugs to be able to "cure" diseases such as E. coli infection.
- Antidiarrheals are not helpful because they delay the expulsion of the infection from the gut, which then causes further organ damage and symptoms can worsen. The best thing to do, even if it seems contradictory, is to let the diarrhea run its course, in order to get rid of the infection as quickly as possible.
- Antibiotics are not recommended because they have been shown to aggravate the situation and when bacteria are killed they release more toxins causing more damage.
Step 3. Eliminates bacteria naturally through the immune system
Since antibiotics are not recommended for E. coli infection, it is the immune system that must eradicate it. Fortunately, he is able to, as long as he has the right support. Rest, follow your doctor's instructions and let your immune system do its job!
Part 2 of 3: Treating the E. Coli Infection
Step 1. Rest
It may seem too simple, but rest is the right key to recovering from this infection as soon as possible. Since there are not many traditional drugs able to eradicate it, rest becomes the most important aspect, to allow the body to recover energy and better fight pathogens using its own natural defenses.
- Call your employer to advise that you will take a few days off. Staying at home is not only important to rest, but also to avoid passing the infection on to colleagues. During the illness you have to remain isolated because you are very contagious.
- Make sure you wash your hands often and avoid getting too close to other people during the course of the infection (which should improve within a week or so).
- Escherichia coli is spread through fecal material, so wash your hands more carefully after going to the bathroom.
Step 2. Stay hydrated
The infection causes severe diarrhea, so it is important to hydrate properly by drinking water and other fluids containing carbohydrates and electrolytes to compensate for fluid loss.
Dehydration is more severe in the weaker age groups. If the patient is a newborn or elderly person, you must take him to the doctor to find suitable treatments
Step 3. Take oral rehydration solutions
These are powders containing salts and electrolytes necessary for the body. In case of dehydration, they are much more effective than plain water. The powder must be added to a liter of water and you can drink the solution within the next 24 hours. You can find these solutions in pharmacies, in some sports stores or online.
- Alternatively, you can make a rehydrating solution yourself at home by dissolving 4 tablespoons of sugar, half a teaspoon of baking soda and half of salt in one liter of water.
- If you want more information to prepare the solution, read this tutorial.
- Use only clean water to avoid possible infections. If necessary, boil it.
Step 4. Go to the hospital if dehydration is really severe
In this case, they can inject fluids intravenously to restore the electrolytes and ions lost in diarrhea or vomiting. You can tell when it's time to go to the hospital if you can't hold on to fluids due to nausea or if you have more than four bouts of diarrhea a day. If in doubt, it is still best to contact a health facility to give you fluids intravenously and thus speed up your recovery.
- Electrolytes are substances found naturally in the body and help maintain normal body functions.
- If you have very severe bloody diarrhea (which can sometimes occur with some strains of E. coli), you can ask for a blood transfusion. Your blood will be analyzed for hemoglobin level. In this way, it will be easier to know how much you have lost and thus to determine the dose to transfuse.
Step 5. Take pain relievers and antiemetics as needed
To relieve symptoms, you can take abdominal pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tachipirina), which you can easily find in pharmacies without a prescription. Stick to the dosage indicated on the package. To combat nausea, you can instead take antiemetics such as dimenhydrinate (Xamamina).
Step 6. Change the power supply
To reduce symptoms, you should first start eating low-fiber foods. In this way, you help the digestive tract to recover its normal functions faster. If you eat too much fiber, the stool becomes bulkier and passes through the intestinal tract faster - a process that is probably already happening due to the infection. When you start to feel better and the diarrhea is gone, you can go back to your normal high-fiber diet.
Also avoid alcohol and caffeine, as the former alters the liver metabolism and damages the stomach lining, while caffeine aggravates diarrhea by increasing dehydration
Part 3 of 3: Taking Preventive Measures
Step 1. Observe proper hygiene measures when preparing food
This includes preparing and cooking food. Foods that are normally eaten raw (such as fruit and some vegetables) must be thoroughly cleaned to avoid ingesting contaminants.
Boil the water if necessary and cool it in a clean place. Even the one you use for cooking must respect hygienic conditions, to avoid the risk of contaminating what you eat
Step 2. Take precautions when going to the pool
Swimming pool water should be treated with chlorine and changed regularly. This is to avoid contamination and make sure it is safe for swimmers.
- Fecal contamination in swimming pools occurs more often than you might think. In a recent study performed by the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 58% of public swimming pools were found to be positive for fecal contamination. This does not necessarily mean that E. coli, but that the environment may be favorable for its transmission.
- If you are a swimmer, avoid ingesting pool water if possible. Also, always shower after swimming to further reduce the risk of infection.
Step 3. Wash your hands regularly
It is important to always keep them clean, as E. coli is contagious and can spread from one person to another through fecal contamination. Poor sanitation in bathrooms can lead to the spread of infection.
Step 4. Cook the food well
Make sure they are always well cooked before ingesting them. If they are partially raw, you shouldn't eat them, especially beef. Always check that each dish is cooked thoroughly, so as not to introduce any microbes or bacteria present in the food.
