Is E. coli the cause of stomach pain? (E. coli Infection) Let's find out exactly about this!

Have you ever had a sudden stomach ache and had to stay on the toilet all day long, with your stomach turning over? Maybe your stomach hurts like water when you go to the toilet. Most of the time, this is caused by a bacterial infection. Today, we're talking about a very common, but sometimes dangerous, bacterium called E. coli.

Simply put, what is this E. coli?

E. coli (Escherichia coli) is a group of bacteria. There are good types and bad types. The E. coli strains that normally live in the intestines (digestive tract) of healthy people and animals do not harm us. In fact, they help us digest food. Just like there are good people in our society.

However, some types of E. coli are disease-causing, like bad people. When these bacteria enter the body, they attach to our cells and start producing toxins. That's when we get sick. We call any illness caused by these disease-causing strains an "E. coli infection."

What are the types of E. coli infections?

Although the first thing that comes to mind when we think of E. coli infections is a stomach ache, this bacteria can also affect other parts of the body. The most common types are:

• Gastroenteritis: This is the most common type. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting.
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): This condition can occur when E. coli bacteria found in our feces enter the urinary tract. This is the cause of many urinary tract infections in women.

In addition, although somewhat rare, E. coli can also cause the following infections:

• Bloodstream infections
• Prostate infection (Prostatitis)
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Lung infections (Pneumonia) - this is very rare
• Meningitis - This is also very rare.

What are the symptoms of an E. coli infection?

Symptoms vary depending on where in the body you are infected. Let's look at the symptoms of the two main types.

Symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 days after the germ enters the body. However, sometimes symptoms can appear within a few hours or as long as 10 days.

How does this E. coli get into our bodies?

This may sound a bit strange, but the truth is that this disease is most often spread through feces. We become infected when invisible germs enter our mouths. There are several ways this can happen:

• Eating contaminated food: It can be transmitted through undercooked meat (especially beef), raw vegetables and fruits that have not been washed thoroughly.
• Contaminated beverages: Unpasteurized milk, cheese made from milk, ice cream, and fruit drinks can be contaminated.
• Contaminated water: You can become infected by drinking or swallowing water from untreated wells, rivers, streams, and swimming pools.
• Person-to-person: If someone with an E. coli infection doesn't wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom, they can spread it to others through objects they touch, food they prepare, etc. There's also a high chance of transmission if you don't wash your hands properly after changing diapers for young children.

The most dangerous type of E. coli: STEC

Although there are many types of E. coli, one we should be especially aware of is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) . The toxins produced by this bacteria destroy our cells. STEC can cause blood poisoning and a serious kidney disease called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) .

How is it treated? Can't this be cured at home?

In most cases, mild E. coli infections of the intestines do not require special treatment. The most important thing is to rest and drink plenty of fluids (water, broth, porridge, etc.) . Diarrhea can cause dehydration by causing the body to lose water and salts.

Therefore, the best thing you can do is see a doctor right away. He or she will examine you, and if necessary, perform a stool or urine test, to determine exactly what type of infection you have. If it is a urinary tract infection, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate antibiotics.

What should you do to avoid an E. coli infection?

The best way to avoid this infection is through cleanliness and safe eating habits.

1. Hand washing is number one:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap before and after preparing food.
• Be sure to wash your hands after handling raw meat and fish.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and changing your child's diaper.
• It is also very important to wash your hands after touching animals.

2. Food Security:

• Wash vegetables and fruits, especially those eaten raw, thoroughly under running water.
• Cook meat and fish until they are no longer pink inside.
• Use two separate cutting boards, one for raw meat and one for vegetables. Otherwise, wash the board thoroughly with soap after cutting meat before cutting vegetables.
• Do not let cooked and raw foods mix together.
• Put leftover food in the refrigerator immediately.

3. Take care of water:

• Don't drink water from unknown sources. It's safest to drink boiled water.
• Be very careful if you use well water after a flood-like situation.

When should you see a doctor?

A simple stomach ache should subside in a day or two, but if you have these symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor.