clinical manifestations
Last edited 02/2020 and last reviewed 01/2021
- Usually 2-4 days for STEC O157 and similar for most strains of non-O157 STEC
- Gastroenteritis:
- May be asymptomatic
- Non-bloody diarrhoea, fever, abdominal cramps and vomiting
- Bloody diarrhoea and severe abdominal pain in more severe disease
- Usually self-limiting with recovery in around 10 days
- Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS): - Approximately 10% of STEC O157 cases develop HUS
- Characterised by acute renal failure, thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
- Children aged less than 5 years are at greatest risk of developing HUS, usually 1 week after onset of bloody diarrhoea
- Around 50% may develop chronic renal complications. Mortality is between 3-5%
Non-O157 infections show a similar spectrum of illness but several strains have been associated with more severe disease (bloody diarrhoea and HUS) including O26, O45 and others