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E. coli enteritis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Traveler's diarrhea - E. coli; Food poisoning - E. coli; E. coli diarrhea; Hamburger disease

Symptoms:

Symptoms occur when the E. coli bacteria enters the intestine. The time between being infected and developing symptoms is usually 24 - 72 hours. Symptoms may include:

Abdominal pain
Diarrhea that is sudden and severe, and may be bloody
Fever
Gas
Loss of appetite
Stomach cramping
Vomiting (rare)

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. A stool culture can be done to check for disease-causing E. coli.

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 3/5/2009
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Guerrant RL. Escherichia enteric infections. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap. 327.

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