What is E. Coli?
Being aware of E. Coli symptoms and treatment may help one through bad bouts of food poisoning.
Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is a group of bacteria that naturally lives in the intestines of most animals. This includes humans. Its primary function is to help the body break down and digest the food that we consume. However, E. coli has many strains, and some of them are harmful.
Some people who have contracted E. coli strains do not get any infections or illnesses at all. Other people experience severe symptoms that may lead to severe complications.
E. coli can cause many different kinds of infections, which require different kinds of treatment. In this article, E. coli symptoms and treatment will be discussed in the case where someone is infected by E. coli through food consumption.
E. Coli Symptoms and Treatment: Sources of Infection
Enterohemorrhagic E. coli is the most common strain of E. coli bacteria that causes severe intestinal infection. This is due to the “Shiga” toxin it produces.
The following are common food items that may be contaminated by this bacteria strain:
Meats
The slaughtering process may cause contamination, as the intestines of the animal mixes with meat from other animals. The human-to-animal transmission of E. coli starts with eating raw or undercooked meats.
Unpasteurized Milk
Freshly pumped milk from cows can be contaminated as the cow’s breast and the milking equipment used can be tainted by E. coli. Moreover, products made from raw milk, such as soft cheese, can also be contaminated. It is important to heat the milk at a high temperature first to kill the bacteria (pasteurization) and other microorganisms before consumption.
Fruits and Vegetables
Some crops are usually planted near animal farms where animal feces are used as natural fertilizers. Runoff water may also enter the field of crops, contaminating the crops with E. coli bacteria.
Contaminated Water
Animal feces combined with rainwater may run through all types of waterways like ponds, rivers, streams, and even city-wide water supplies. If not filtered, the water that we drink can be contaminated.
