Escherichiosis

General description of the disease

These are intestinal diseases, collected in one whole group, caused by colibacilli and paro-coli. They are considered one of the most common causes of the so-called “travelers’ diarrhea».

Escherichia are classified into 5 main groups:

• enteropathogenic group – bacteria are the cause of diarrhea in children, which begins due to the fact that they attach to the epithelial layer of the intestine and damage the micro-hairs;
• enteroinvasive – when infections of this group enter the mucous membrane of the large intestine, the inflammatory process begins, general intoxication of the body begins;
• enterotoxigenic – Escherichia coli causes cholera-type diarrhea;
• enteroadhesive – these bacteria disrupt the intestinal absorption function (this is due to the attachment of bacteria to the mucous membrane and the lining of the intestinal lumen);
• enterohemorrhagic – infections, entering the intestinal environment, provoke the occurrence of hemorrhagic diarrhea (symptoms are similar to diarrhea with dysentery).

According to their clinical manifestations, Escherichiosis is divided into:

Escherichiosis of the intestinal type caused by strains of enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive groups.

The disease with enterotoxigenic strains manifests itself acutely – abdominal pains similar to contractions, bloating, frequent profuse diarrhea (no bad smell, watery), some have severe dizziness, nausea and vomiting. There is a lesion of the small intestine, without involvement and changes in the large intestine. The disease can occur in light or severe… To determine the severity of the patient’s condition, an indicator of dehydration is taken. This group of intestinal diseases does not cause general intoxication of the body.

With the defeat of enteroinvasive Escherichia, symptoms of general toxicosis of the body begin (lethargy, headaches, muscle pain, dizziness, chills, poor appetite), but most people feel normal for the first few hours of the course of the disease (feeling unwell begins after diarrhea, which, as usual , not long, but replaced by severe colic in the lower abdomen). After these manifestations, the number of bowel movements reaches up to 10 times per day. First, the stool comes out in the form of porridge, then each time it becomes thinner and thinner (eventually, the stool becomes in the form of mucus mixed with blood). When examining a patient, the large intestine is compacted, painful, while an increase in the spleen and liver is not observed. In most cases, the disease is easily tolerated. The patient’s febrile states stop on the 2nd day (in severe cases on the 4th), by which time the stool is normalized. Painful sensations and spasms of the colon stop on the 5th day, and the mucous membrane of the large intestine is restored on the 7-9th day of the disease.

Escherichiosis of the paraintestinal type… Escherichia of the non-pathogenic type are found in large quantities in the intestines and do not pose any threat to health. But if they somehow get into the abdominal cavity, peritonitis occurs, and when it enters the female vagina, colpitis. In such cases, the patient is prescribed antibiotic treatment. It is worth remembering the possibility of developing dysbiosis when taking them. Also, bacteria of this type have the ability to become addictive and develop drug resistance. In people with low immunity and in the absence of proper treatment, complications can occur in the form of pneumonia, meningitis, pyelonephritis and sepsis.

In both cases of escherichiosis, the body temperature remains normal or rises very slightly (up to 37-37,5 degrees).

Septic Escherichia coli, in most cases, children are sick. The bacteria that cause this type of escherichiosis are attributed to the enteropathogenic group and cause various enterocolitis, enteritis, and in premature and newly born children, they proceed in the form of sepsis. The main symptoms: anorexia, vomiting, frequent regurgitation, a sharp rise in temperature, weakness, lethargy, the appearance of a large number of purulent wounds. In this case, diarrhea may be absent or appear insignificantly (loose stools once a day, for several days).

Attention!

The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!