After analyzing your symptoms and clinical history, your doctor will request a stool sample to perform a stool culture to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions that could contribute to your discomfort.
The treatment to follow is prepared according to the symptoms intensity, the affected organs, and the type of bacteria, but normally includes:
- Rest.
- Plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
- Bland diet, avoiding fatty and high-fiber foods, as well as dairy products, as they can increase the symptoms.
- Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if you have an E.coli infection out of your digestive tract.
If the E.coli infection has caused an abscess, you will likely require surgery to remove the pus.
If the infection has caused kidney failure and is life-threatening, you will require hospitalization for intravenous hydration, dialysis, and blood transfusions.
Like any other disease, prevention is the best cure, so you should follow these recommendations:
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked foods, as well as unpasteurized dairy products.
- Practice good hand hygiene, especially after having contact with animals, changing diapers, handling raw food, and going to the bathroom.
- Disinfect fruits and vegetables.
- Drink purified water.
At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.
