There are many different bacteria in the intestines. Some are considered useful, while others are considered harmful. E. coli belongs to the second group. When its norm in the body is exceeded, then health problems appear. About the causes and treatment of a person is described in the article.
What it is?
E. coli are bacteria that belong to the genus Escherichia family Enterobacteriaceae. These microorganisms have high resistance, they can live in water, soil, feces for many months. A group of diseases that are associated with Escherichia coli and are caused by pathogenic bacteria strains are called Escherichiosis. Because of them, problems appear in the digestive system and the genitourinary system. Bacteria are able to multiply rapidly in foods, especially milk, so the use of infected and seeded dishes with a stick leads to the development of an infectious and inflammatory disease.
Classes
E. coli are divided into opportunistic and pathogenic. Scientists have identified over a hundred pathogenic bacteria strains that are divided into classes. They may be:
- enteroinvasive;
- enterotoxigenic;
- enteropathogenic;
- enterohemorrhagic.
These microorganisms lead to the development of Escherichiosis, an infectious disease that is commonly seen in children and women. There is E. coli in urine and stomach. If there is no timely treatment, then complications are likely.
Why does it enter the body?
The stick is able to exist and multiply at a temperature of 37 degrees. It feeds on the intestines with mineral components and amino acid breakdown products. Remaining viable, the stick penetrates into water bodies, soil and products.
The genus Escherichia is part of the family of enterobacteria. Many types of microorganisms are beneficial to us. Some strains are pathogenic - they provoke food poisoning, genitourinary infections. During complex immunodeficiency conditions, when the rod is distributed throughout the body, meningitis and sepsis may appear. If Escherichia coli appears, the reasons for this are simple. The main factor in infection is considered non-hygiene.
There are 2 ways to transmit the infection:
- Water. The infection can penetrate the body due to the use of unboiled or low-quality water.
- Alimentary. The infection is transmitted through contaminated food, leading to food poisoning.
By the oral method, Escherichia penetrates the intestinal tract for the following reasons:
- dirty hands;
- dirt on vegetables and fruits;
- insufficient heat treatment of meat ;
- raw water infection;
- the use of raw milk.
Contact-household method is not common. It is usually observed during an outbreak of Escherichiosis in a separate room. Transmission of infection during childbirth from mother to child is considered a dangerous way of infection with a stick.
How is it manifested?
What are the symptoms of E. coli? They manifest themselves in different ways, so all classes must be considered separately. The condition of an infected person depends on the group of E. coli and its reproduction rate. But in general, soreness manifests itself in the form:
- digestive disorders;
- vomiting and nausea;
- manifestations of flatulence;
- weaknesses;
- drowsiness
- loss of appetite;
- temperature increase;
- pressure drops.
This manifests the presence of E. coli in adults and children. Symptoms can be either several, or only one.
Symptoms by type of bacteria
Escherichiosis, which appeared from enteroinvasive sticks, leads to damage to the large intestine. The disease manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- weakness
- headache;
- chills;
- high temperature.
After a few hours, a cramping pain in the lower abdomen appears. Diarrhea, watery and profuse stools are observed. If the colon is affected, colitis occurs. This type of disease has a benign treatment. The temperature and stool normalize after 1-3 days.
Infections caused by enteropathogenic bacilli in adults and children from 3 years old proceeds in the same way as salmonellosis. The onset of the disease is characterized by:
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal pains;
- fever.
The stool will be fluid, watery, plentiful. A person visits the toilet 2-6 times a day. The infection develops for 3-6 days, and then recovery comes.
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are considered dangerous due to the fact that they can attach to the intestinal mucosa, which leads to disruption of its functioning. Infection can be transmitted through dirty hands or fruits. With her appears:
- watery diarrhea;
- nausea;
- paroxysmal abdominal pain.
Symptoms of enterohemorrhagic infection include:
- necrosis;
- the presence of blood clots in the feces;
- peritonitis;
- diarrhea.
E. coli in a child has a more severe course, especially with the defeat of newborns or children with low body weight. Therefore, it is important to take timely measures to eliminate this ailment.
Complications
With some types of sticks, the appearance of:
- poisoning;
- colibacillosis;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- colpitis;
- prostatitis;
- inflammation of the genitourinary system, cystitis;
- meningitis in newborns.
Sometimes, due to inflammation, the appearance of:
- peritonitis;
- pneumonia;
- sepsis;
- mastitis.
Escherichia coli is dangerous in the woman's vagina, as it can lead to inflammation of the genitals. First, vulvovaginitis or colpitis occurs. If you do not get rid of the pathogen in a timely manner, then the infection passes to the fallopian tubes and to the uterus. Endometritis appears. When bacteria move through the body, they penetrate into the abdominal cavity, peritonitis develops. The disease from Escherichia coli in the urine or stomach can manifest itself in different ways and can lead to many complications. And timely treatment will eliminate the ailment.
Due to non-observance of personal hygiene and during intercourse, E. coli can penetrate the vagina. In the future, this leads to inflammation of the urinary organs - cystitis, pyelonephritis. But E. coli in a smear does not always indicate the presence of a disease. The presence of bacteria in small quantities may mean that the necessary hygiene measures were not performed before the analysis. But if urinalysis revealed no less than 102-104 Escherichia coli in the presence of signs of the disease, then it is likely inflammation in the kidneys or bladder.
Diagnostics
This event is carried out through bacteriological research. Often with the presence of sticks in research material, which is considered the main part of the intestinal microflora, it is not easy to isolate a pure bacterial culture. If there is inflammation in the body, urgent treatment is required.
The analysis is carried out according to:
- feces and vomit;
- blood
- urine
- pus;
- smears and scrapings.
How to treat?
Treatment for E. coli should be comprehensive. It consists of the following items:
- Antibiotics. Such therapy is the basis for the treatment of E. coli. Drugs are prescribed after establishing the sensitivity of microorganisms to them. Typically, antibiotics of the cephalosporin group are required: Cefelim, Cephalexin, Levofloxacin. Funds must be taken in courses of 5-10 days.
- Bacteriophages. These drugs kill bacteria gently and safely compared to antibiotics, but they are not always effective. Of the bacteriophages, Sextaphagus, Intesti-bacteriophage are distinguished.
- Painkillers. For severe abdominal pain, pain medications are prescribed, for example, No-Shpa, Bral, Spazmalin, Nurofen. But they should not be taken for a long time.
- Probiotics The most popular include Linex, Bifidumbacterin. The drugs restore the normal balance of pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms in the intestine.
What is required for escherichiosis?
Treatment of Escherichiosis is performed in a hospital setting:
- In mild forms of infection, antibacterial agents are not needed.
- If the infection is moderate, then fluoroquinolone antibiotics are needed, such as Norfloxacin.
- Severe forms are eliminated by cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones with aminoglycosides.
Before taking any medications, you should consult with a specialist. You also need to read the instructions, which indicate the rules of treatment. Compliance with the recommendations will allow you to restore well-being in a short time.
Treatment principles
In addition to taking antibiotics, the patient must follow other treatment rules. For diarrhea or vomiting, rehydration solutions are required. With them, the lost fluid and salt are replenished. After each bowel movement and vomiting, you need to drink 300-600 ml of rehydration solution. To prepare it, the pharmaceutical powder “Trisol”, “Regidron” or “Glucosolan” is used.
To ensure high-quality treatment of diseases caused by E. coli, it is advisable to take enterosorbents:
- Polysorb.
- Enterosgel.
- Polyphepan.
- Smecta.
- Filtrum
It is important to stick to a dietary menu. Eliminate Escherichia coli will be obtained in compliance with a special diet. The diet should have cereals boiled in water, mucous soups, boiled vegetables, lean meat and fish, which are steamed. You can not eat smoked meats, fatty, fried foods, canned food, milk, fresh fruits, spices.
In infants
Often there is E. coli in infants. The main route of transmission is fecal-oral. The hemolytic stick penetrates with mother's milk or during childbirth. Escherichia coli multiplies for various reasons, but this is usually associated with a decrease in the child’s immune defense. The carriers may be the hands of children, as they often pull them in their mouths.
You should consult a doctor when the first signs of bowel problems appear. Self-medication can be harmful. Only a specialist can determine the infection and choose a treatment. Breast can be treated at home or in the hospital. Special means are often prescribed, for example, Smecta. This is a mild sorbent that eliminates the infection. Toxic components are quickly and naturally eliminated from the body of the child.
Breasts should not be given antibiotics. Many drugs can relieve diarrhea, but cannot eliminate the infection. And Smecta creates a protective shell that can protect against bacteria and microbes. The powder is dissolved in water. It must be given in a bottle, dissolving 1 sachet. The treatment lasts 3 days. During this period, the symptoms usually disappear. But if this does not help, then another treatment is needed.
If the child is prescribed other medicines, then Smecta should be given only after 2 hours. If the doctor recommends inpatient treatment, then it is better to choose it, since an infection in a baby is a dangerous phenomenon. Due to diarrhea and vomiting, the children's body weakens.
In the hospital, the child will be constantly monitored. They collect tests to identify the pathogen. Since the results are not immediately available, but urgent help is needed, the child can be placed under a dropper with glucose. This is required to restore fluid levels and lower temperatures. Even in hospitals, babies are given antiemetic and antipyretic drugs. After a day, tests will be ready that will determine the further treatment.
Prevention
Destruction of E. coli occurs during cooking, baking, pasteurization. This rule is valid provided that the temperature is at least 70 degrees, and the duration is from 2 minutes. Compared with other bacteria, Escherichia coli is more resistant to cold, acidic environment, drying and high salt concentration.
Prevention to protect against diseases caused by Escherichia coli is as follows:
- It is important to observe personal hygiene. To do this, thoroughly wash your hands and face after the street and crowded places. It is important to be careful about intimate hygiene.
- It is necessary to wash raw foods and bring milk and meat to the required state.
- You need to drink only high-quality water.
- The hospital should use disposable clothing .
- It is necessary to control the hygiene and health status of pets.
- You should regularly clean the living room with the help of high-quality, but not aggressive means.
- It is important to be careful when eating at catering establishments and during the holidays.
Total
Thus, E. coli is a dangerous problem, both in adults and in children. It is important to identify the cause and start treatment in a timely manner. This will prevent complications.