Monti Sanford

Mrs. Harrell
English 4
11-07-14
E. coli stands for Escherichia Coli. It can be contracted in many ways. The two most
popular ways are through the stool of an animal or even through food. Doctors and people in the
hospital need to recognize the symptoms, precautions to take and the treatment that needs to be
proceeded with immediately. HUS stands for haemolytic ursemic syndrome. HUS is an even
more powerfully life threatening disease which causes many after effects as well. Escherichia
Coli is where it starts as it is a bacteria that is found in the intestines that causes serious illness in
the host.
The disease can be contracted from eating contaminated food, food products from
infected animals, beef products, uncared for milk products, animal feces contaminated products,
prepared meals that are contaminated, contact with infected animals, recreational exposure to
contaminated water or through people with oral contact. (Gould 50-56.) If youre careful, the
spread of E. coli can be prevented. (Pritzker.)
Doctors should know the signs. If doctors just pass it off as nothing, like they have, it will
develop faster and become even more life threatening. Symptoms include feeling ill, nausea,
consistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea are some of the main signs.
Hospitals should take immediate action. From past experience, patients should not be sent home
if still not feeling well in addition to until they get the results back. It takes a while for E. coli to
be treated as there are many problems that go along with it.

You can develop HUS from E. coli. HUS stands for haemolytic ursemic syndrome. HUS
is an even more dangerous disease which causes many problems with a trail of problems
following behind. Thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura is the worst complication you could
receive. It causes kidney, heart and other problems. Little do most people know, when people say
kidney problems they are most likely saying they will need a kidney transplant down the road,
they just say it as if it isnt that big of a deal. Downsizing makes it easier to not accept how scary
the fact really is. Another would be purpura. Purpura is a problem where purple spots and bruises
cover your body. Which leads to anaemia where you need to be hooked up to a machine and be
given blood transfusions. While the entire time you have malaise which is a discomfort
disfunction and many many more. Chances of contracting E. coli are very slight but the
probability of then getting HUS at the same time is little to nothing, unfortunately it does occur.
What is the actual known likeliness of getting HUS during E. coli? Two to seven percent. The
facts say that the death rate is seventeen percent but in reality when you are the patient in the
bed, the doctors say you got a fifty-fifty shot.
E. coli and HUS are very harmful, very serious diseases. E. coli can be contracted in a
few ways. It can be prevented more than it is though. If you just are careful it is a guarantee less
people would come down with it. The tricky thing is the beginning symptoms are just like any
other regular day to day sickness, which is why doctors need to catch the beginning symptoms in
their tracks so that the hospital can take immediate action to treat it. The patient who got it has
gone through an awful experience if they survive but the after effects are a huge part of it as well.
You need to regain your strength and do therapy to walk again. You will have a very brief
remembrance of what happened due to memory loss and so many other complications such as
appointment after checkup after everything. Let alone most people will need a kidney transplant

down the road. Its not an easy thing to go through. If you survive E. coli AND HUS consider
yourself a very strong person. I do.

Works Cited
Gould, Dinah. Causes, Prevention And The Treatment Of Escherichia Coli
Infections. Nursing Standard (Royal College Of Nursing (Great Britain): 1987) 24.31 (2010):
50-56. MEDLINE. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.
PritzerOlsen, P.A. Pritzker Olsen Attorneys: Germantown, ohio E. coli and HUS
Outbreak Victims at risk for Future Health Problems. Business Wire (English) 7:Points
of Veiw reference Center. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.