One in six Americans will get sick from food poisoning this
year. That’s about 48 million people. Most of them will recover
without any lasting effects from their illness. For some,
however, the effects can be devastating and even deadly. Here
are some serious effects associated with several common types of
food poisoning. Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is a serious
illness that usually occurs when an infection in the digestive
system produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells,
causing kidney injury. HUS may occur after infection with some
kinds of E. coli bacteria. HUS is most common in children. In
fact, it is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in
children. A small number of persons with Shigella or Salmonella
infection develop pain in their joints, irritation of the eyes,
and painful urination. This is called reactive arthritis. It can
last for months or years, and can lead to chronic arthritis,
which is difficult to treat. Persons with Campylobacter
infections may also develop chro