Enterotoxigenic E. coli, also known as ETEC or Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli , is a bacterium that causes gastroenteritis mainly in children under 3 years old and visitors to industrialized countries to underdeveloped areas and, therefore, causes a type of diarrhea also known as traveler's diarrhea.
This type of E. coli is transmitted by eating food or water contaminated with faeces, so it is important to avoid the use of public water and to ensure the hygiene of food purchased outside the home, especially when traveling to other countries. Here are some tips to avoid ingesting bacteria.
Infection with enterotoxigenic E. coli is curable with adequate water intake and light food, however, there are cases where it may be necessary to take antibiotics prescribed by the doctor.
Main symptoms
The most common symptoms of intestinal infection caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli include:
- Diarrhea with lots of water; Severe belly pain; Fever and chills; Nausea and vomiting; Headache; Loss of appetite; Muscle pain.
These symptoms can appear from 12 hours to 3 days after consumption of water or food contaminated with the bacteria, and the duration of the disease is approximately 5 days.
These symptoms are very similar to those of gastroenteritis caused by any other microorganism and, therefore, many people are unaware that they have been infected by this bacterium, however, it is the main cause of diarrhea when traveling to other countries.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The only way to identify the bacteria that is causing the intestinal infection is to do a stool examination in the laboratory, in which all the bacteria present are identified. Thus, when this bacteria is found, it is usually responsible for the infection.
However, in most cases the diagnosis is made only by observing the symptoms by a general practitioner, and the stool examination is only requested when the symptoms do not improve or worsen over time.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for gastroenteritis caused by enterotoxigenic E. Coli is usually done with rest at home, avoiding going to school or work, and drinking fluids, to avoid dehydration caused by diarrhea.
In addition, a light diet should be avoided, avoiding foods with sugar, fat or too spicy, as they can increase bowel movements. Check what the diet should contain in cases of gastroenteritis.
In cases where symptoms do not improve after 2 or 3 days, it is recommended to go to the general practitioner or gastroenterologist to assess the need to start using antibiotics, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 160mg - 800 mg, twice a day or doxycycline a 100 mg, once a day, for 5 days.
