Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Question: can pet waste cause hemolytic uremic syndrome? if living in a dirty home with many animals cause this to happen to a 17m old baby.

Answer: Most cases of HUS occur after an infection of the digestive system by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterium, which is found in foods like meat, dairy products, and juice when they are contaminated. Some people have contracted HUS after swimming in pools or lakes contaminated with feces. Washing and cooking foods adequately, avoiding undercooked meats, and avoiding unclean swimming areas are the best ways to protect your child from this disease. Infection of the digestive tract is called gastroenteritis and may cause your child to vomit and have stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. Most children who experience gastroenteritis recover fully in 2 or 3 days and do not develop HUS. In a few children, however, HUS develops when the bacteria lodged in the digestive system make toxins that enter the bloodstream and start to destroy red blood cells. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms of HUS may not become apparent until a week after the digestive problems. With HUS, the child remains pale, tired, and irritable. Other signs include small, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose or mouth that may occur because the toxins also destroy the platelets, cells that normally help the blood to clot. You may notice that your child's urine output decreases. The urine may also appear red. Urine formation slows because the damaged red blood cells clog the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys, making them work harder to remove wastes and extra fluid from the blood. The body's inability to rid itself of excess fluid and wastes may in turn cause high blood pressure or swelling of the face, hands, feet, or entire body. This progression to acute kidney failure occurs in about half of HUS cases. Healthy red blood cells (left) are smooth and round. In hemolytic uremic syndrome (right), toxins destroy red blood cells. These misshapen cells may clog the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys. Call your child's doctor immediately if you notice unexplained bruises, unusual bleeding, swollen limbs or generalized swelling, extreme fatigue, or decreased urine output in your child. You should call your doctor or visit an emergency room if your child goes 12 hours without urinating. Treatment Treatments, which consist of maintaining normal salt and water levels in the body, are aimed at easing the immediate symptoms and preventing further problems. Your child may need a transfusion of red blood cells delivered intravenously—that is, through an I.V. needle. Only the most severe cases require dialysis. Some children may sustain significant kidney damage that slowly develops into permanent kidney failure and will then require long-term dialysis or a kidney transplant. Some studies suggest that limiting protein in the child’s diet and treating blood pressure with a medicine from a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, usually called ACE inhibitors, helps delay or prevent the onset of permanent kidney failure. Most children recover completely with no long-term consequences. Some parents feel a sense of responsibility for their child's illness after a case of HUS. While the disease may have been preventable, caregivers should not feel guilty because the invisible course of the disease cannot be predicted from the initial bacterial infection, which many children experience without developing HUS. Caregivers who get their children the appropriate medical care should rest assured that they have done all that any caring parent could do. Hope Through Research The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts and supports research to help many kinds of people with kidney disease, including children. NIDDK's Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (DKUHD) maintains the Pediatric Nephrology Program, which supports research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of kidney diseases in children. DKUHD supports several researchers working to find ways to prevent HUS from developing after the initial infection of the digestive system. For more information American Society of Pediatric Nephrology Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine Pediatrics W140 303 East Chicago Avenue Chicago, IL 60611–3008 Phone: 312–503–4000 Fax: 312–503–1181 Email: aspn@northwestern.edu Internet: www.aspneph.com National Kidney Foundation 30 East 33rd Street New York, NY 10016 Phone: 1–800–622–9010 or 212–889–2210 Fax: 212–689–9261 Email: info@kidney.org Internet: www.kidney.org for the info i found below the website is listed so u can find more out about what i found for u. http://www.goshen.edu/bio/Biol206/Biol206LabProject/HUS05/Mode%20of%20transmission.htm The infectious microorganisms which cause Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) live in the GI tract of animals (including humans). These organisms may be excreted with the feces and may contaminate things which the feces come in contact with. If consumed, these microorganisms can flourish in the GI of the animal (including man) which consumed them. If consumed by an animal, the animal may be asymptomatic. If consumed by man, they are at risk of developing HUS. Even if only a few microorganisms are transmitted they are capable of multiplying and contaminating large quantities of substances or objects they come in contact with. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question: Can e-coli lay dormant and then cause kidney infections? I am interesting in finding out about Hemolytic Uremic syndrome which is E-coli 0157:h7. 3 out of 5 kids in one family have contracted this form of e-coli.

Answer: No I do not believe it causes Kidney infections.

Question: I just got this email about e.coli and was wondering if it was true.? Please forward to those you care about… I have a warning about the E. coli breakout that has recently occurred… 199 Cases of E. coli Related Illnesses 102 Hospitalizations 31 Cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome 26 Affected States 4 Fields on 4 Ranches 3 Deaths 2 Search Warrants and FBI/FDA Raids 1 source: Natural Selection Foods Please boycott Natural Selections and all their sub-brands and Dole Foods until they stop the use of cattle feces as fertilizer and unsanitary cattle drainage water on their lettuces and spinach. The same drainage water that cows clean themselves with, go to the bathroom in, and wallow in is the same water that’s being used to water your spinach and lettuce. Their haphazard use of cattle feces, the main carrier of the E. coli bacteria, is endangering the health of those of us who love fresh foods. In the past year alone, Dole has had 2 recalls of their salad products due to E. coli contamination in their lettuce and spinach. The only company that seems to be in the clear so far is Fresh Express, but they are still being investigated. Please warn your families about the potential danger of using Natural Selections and Dole Foods produce! Until these companies stop using cattle feces on their crops, these outbreaks will continue to occur! Natural Selection Foods, LLC brands include: Natural Selection Foods, Pride of San Juan, Earthbound Farm, Bellissima, Dole, Rave Spinach, Emeril, Sysco, O Organic, Fresh Point, River Ranch, Superior, Nature's Basket, Pro-Mark, Compliments, Trader Joe's, Ready Pac, Jansal Valley, Cheney Brothers, D'Arrigo Brothers Co. of New York, Green Harvest, Mann, Mills Family Farm, Premium Fresh, Snoboy, The Farmer's Market, Tanimura & Antle, President's Choice, Cross Valley, and Riverside Farms. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01489.html http://www.ebfarm.com/press/foodsafe/ http://freshexpress.com/SpinachInformation.html http://dole.com/CompanyInfo/Statement/index.jsp

Answer: yes,i'm sure without a doubt.E. coli is caused by vegetables and fruits coming in contact with feces(speciffically cows).the runoff of feces goes into the water irrgations systems used to grow the spinach(or any vegtable or fruit).cows aren't monitered in factory farms so it leads to the cow feces contaminating a large water supply,and the companies that use that water are effected by that because it causes in E. coli in vegetables.

Question: why does hemolysis occur in a patient with hemolytic uremic syndrome? please be very detailed.. in exactlly what causes the cells to rupter, thanks so much

Answer: Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is a disorder that occurs when an infection in the digestive system produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells. It often affects the kidneys. The toxin enters the bloodstream, attaches to renal endothelium and initiates an inflammatory reaction leading to acute renal failure (ARF) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The fibrin mesh destroys red blood cells and captures thrombocytes, leading to a decrease of both on full blood count. The initiating factor seems to be injury of the glomerular endothelium or, in some cases, an imbalance of platelet aggregation factors. This results in fibrin deposits and platelet clumping within the capillaries. As this process continues, the capillaries occlude resulting in decreased glomerular filtration rate and renal failure. Red blood cells traveling through the plugged capillaries are damaged causing hemolytic anemia. Platelets are used up in the clumping process and are damaged in the blood vessels resulting in decreased platelets. Because red blood cells are being destroyed (a process called hemolysis), the person quickly becomes anemic and pale. The most common causative agent is Escherichia coli 0157:H7