What to know about E.coli
After she was administered with a full dose of malaria treatment by a senior and reputable doctor in the state, eight-year-old Fatimah AbdulMumeen was still running a high temperature. Her situation frightened her parents who were worried about her extreme weakness because of her inability to eat properly. She had to skip classes for close […]
After she was administered with a full dose of malaria treatment by a senior and reputable doctor in the state, eight-year-old Fatimah AbdulMumeen was still running a high temperature.
Her situation frightened her parents who were worried about her extreme weakness because of her inability to eat properly. She had to skip classes for close to a week.
However, in the course of her treatment, it was discovered that her persistent feverish condition despite all the treatment was triggered by an infection later discovered to be caused by a bacterial infection known as Escherichia coli (E.coli).
On her part, Anita Omolola presented a case of fever and diarrhoea. At a time she began to bleed from the nose. After her treatment was taking “longer than expected”, the Nursery 2 pupil was diagnosed with a bacterial infection which prompted the administration of antibiotic injections before her condition normalised.
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What is E.coli?
Dr Yusuf Muhammed Jamiu, a senior paediatrician and registrar at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), said E. coli was a bacteria that normally resided in the gut or intestine of humans which sometimes caused diseases.
He said although it might not cause problems at times (commensal/normal flora), some forms of it might invade other parts of the body and cause diseases.
He explained that some of the diseases E.coli might cause included diarrhoea and dysentery (within the gastrointestinal system).
He further said, “If it invades the bloodstream it leads to sepsis; pneumonia in case of attack on the respiratory system and meningitis when it invades the structures around the brain. It can also cause localised infection of the skin, causing cellulitis or even pus collection (abscess). Generally, it depends on what part of the body it invades.”
The medical practitioner who is also the treasurer of the Association of Residents Doctors (ARD) at UITH, said E.coli infection was a very common cause of illnesses but that the exact prevalence was not known.
He said, “It may sometimes cause epidemics in some environments, especially when it contaminates public water sources in places like Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and other settings or environments where potable water is not common.
“It can affect all age groups but is more frequent in extremes of young children and the elderly, including both male and female.
“It causes body reactions in those areas where it has invaded, leading to inflammation, which is responsible for all the symptoms the individual may feel.”
He emphasised that, “The symptoms depend on which part of the body it has invaded. If it is a gastrointestinal system, you have cases like diarrhoea, bloody stool, vomiting, fever, abdominal swelling pains, among others. In the air, it causes coughing, difficulty with breathing, chest pain, etc, while in the urinary system it causes painful and frequent urination or even bloody urine. On the skin, it may cause rashes, swelling, pus or even pains and loss of consciousness and convulsions in severe conditions.”
Everyone at risk
Dr Yusuf noted that, “Everyone is at risk of the infection, but it is more common in overcrowded areas: children, the elderly or those with poor hygiene who get infected from contaminated hands, water sources or poorly cooked food.
“Diagnosis of the infection usually requires visiting a doctor who will evaluate the individual and do laboratory tests to confirm the E.coli infection and also to detect associated problems.”
Prevention
To prevent E.coli, Dr Yusuf said individuals should have good personal hygiene, regular hand washing, proper handling of and adequate cooking of food.
He said, “On a larger scale, government policies that help reduce poverty, empower people, provide good housing, prevent overcrowding and provision of potable water will help prevent this infection.
“Treatment will require the use of drugs prescribed by the doctor after evaluating the individual. The duration and the type of treatment depends on how severe and the type of E.coli infection.
“But it is treatable, especially when they present early to the hospital. Few may have some complications that may persist for a while, particularly among those that present late. My experience with children shows that it is a cause of infection in them, but isolating the organism in the laboratory is not so common.”