Around 76 million people develop food poisoning each year in the United States, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports. Most of the time, food poisoning causes an unpleasant few days of severe gastrointestinal upset and then departs, leaving you weak but not permanently damaged. Certain types of bacterial food poisoning, however, can lead to serious kidney damage and possible kidney failure if you develop a disorder known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. Symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome require prompt medical evaluation and treatment.
Types of Food Poisoning
A specific type of E. coli bacteria called Escherichia coli 0157:H7, which can contaminate undercooked meat, vegetables, water and unpasteurized milk and juices, is the type of food poisoning most often associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome, also known as HUS. However, salmonella and shigella bacteria, also spread via contaminated food or water, can cause HUS. Hemolytic uremic syndrome, which normally affects children between the ages of 1 and 10, is the prime cause of kidney failure in previously healthy children, the NIDDK reports.
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Hemolytic uremic syndrome damages the kidneys by attacking and destroying red blood cells. The damaged red blood cells clog the filtering system of the kidneys, which prevents the kidneys from filtering toxins from the body. The number of red blood cells circulating in the blood drops, leading to reduced blood and oxygen flow to organs and tissues. Multiple organ failure and death can occur.
Symptoms
Symptoms of HUS follow the GI symptoms of food poisoning, which include fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping and diarrhea. Hemolytic uremic syndrome develops after five to 10 days in between 5 and 10 percent of cases of E. coli 0157:H7 cases, the NIDDK reports. Symptoms of HUS include bloody diarrhea, fever, weakness, loss of energy and irritability. If the disease progresses, urine output may drop and your skin may appear bruised or have multiple small pinpoint red spots known as petechiae. You may turn pale due to lack of red blood cells. Loss of consciousness, hypertension, stoke, heart damage or seizures may follow.
Consequences
In approximately 50 percent of cases, HUS progresses to acute kidney failure, with a fatality rate of between 3 and 5 percent, according to the NIDDK. Most children, however, recover completely. Dialysis removes toxins from the body until the kidneys recover; blood transfusions can replace lost red blood cells. In some cases, HUS can lead to chronic kidney disease.
References
- PubMed Health; Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome; March 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome; December 2010
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Diseases; Bacteria and Foodborne Illnesses; May 2007
- Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education: The Causes of Foodborne Illness
