Colon rod (Escherichia coli) is part of the normal intestinal flora. Certain types of strains, however, are of particular pathological importance as far as the gastrointestinal tract is concerned. We distinguish five classes of coliform bacteria responsible for the occurrence of enteritis. It is therefore obvious that the symptoms of the disease will vary according to the strain that causes them.
The causes of diarrhea
They are considered to be the most common cause of diarrhea enterotoxic strains (secreting enterotoxin and having special fimbriae that allow bacteria to adhere to the intestinal epithelium). The characteristic symptoms of this type of infection are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, gushing stools, low-grade fever. They are a frequent cause of the so-called travelers’ diarrhea.
Enteroinvasive strains affect the appearance of symptoms similar to the classic symptoms of bacterial dysentery (they have the ability to invade the intestinal epithelium and damage it similar to dysentery bacilli).
Enterohaemorrhagic strains cause abdominal pain and diarrhea which contains a small amount of blood. There is no fever.
Due to the remaining strains, children suffer from chronic, uncharacteristic diarrhea.
Diarrhea diagnosis
The diagnosis of diarrhea caused by E. coli is not an easy task, as routine stool examination shows only normal bacterial flora (in health conditions – as mentioned above – colonizes the gastrointestinal tract), and the symptoms caused by pathogenic strains are uncharacteristic.
How to treat diarrhea caused by E.
Treatment of diarrhea should be carried out by a doctor. Remember to thoroughly hydrate your baby and replenish his electrolyte losses. If the child does not vomit, you can use ready-made preparations for oral rehydration.
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