Filed under: Infectious Diseases Escherichia coli (E. coli)
bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and
animals. Most varieties of E. coli are harmless or cause
relatively brief diarrhea. But a few particularly nasty strains,
such as E. coli O157:H7, can cause severe abdominal cramps,
bloody diarrhea and vomiting. You may be exposed to E. coli from
contaminated water or food — especially raw vegetables and
undercooked ground beef. Healthy adults usually recover from
infection with E. coli O157:H7 within a week, but young children
and older adults can develop a life-threatening form of kidney
failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Want to know
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