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Can E. Coli Infection Cause General Weakness?

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Posted on Sat, 30 Apr 2016
Question: How much weakness can Ecoli cause when its in the Bladder and Blood?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Depends upon severity of the infection

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome

I appreciate your concern

Weakness depends on the severity of the infection and whether marked septicaemia is present or not.

Kindly answer the following to advise accordingly

Have you tested positive for e coli on urine and blood culture.
Do you have associated fever with the infection.
Have CRP and ESR levels been done.
Kindly upload the lab reports if possible.

Let me know if you have any query

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Dr M.S Khalil.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (6 hours later)
She did test positive for e coli on urine and blood culture
She had no fever
She has a lot of pain in her legs. I have no other information regarding the lab report. They have taken a lot of tests and blood and urine samples.
Question is if a person is cured of the e coli does her leg and energy return?
She is 82 but has always been very active. The pain in her legs seems to be a little less today and she did walk a little with a walker today. The walk was with the aid of the hospital.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

Some people with E coli infection dont notice any symptoms, when it causes serious problems in blood and kidneys the symptoms include pale skin ( caused by anemia), fever, Weakness(caused by anemia), bruising , passing small amounts of urine.severe problems affecting blood and kidneys occur in 5-10% of people occurs due to O157:H7 strain of E coli. some time central nervous system is also affected and symptoms included are irratibilty tiredness lack of energy seizures coma long term nervous sysrem comolication are intellectual disability,slowness of the movement,blindness.
people diagnosed should be closely monitored for these complications.

Hopefully when infection is cleared and there is no damage done to CNS her energy level will come to normal but as she is elderly lady and having life threatening infection she is at risk of developing complications.

I would also advise pneumococal vaccination in addition to annual flu shot.

You can discuss these options with your doctor.

Please consult your doctor before taking any further course of action

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Dr M.S Khalil
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (28 hours later)
Would like just a little more information about e coli. Is it something that is in the body or mainly caused by food? Would her dizziness over the past few months have anything to do with the e coli. If I still had my Rare Coin Business I would have many doctors that collected coins to ask. As I'm older now and retired I need to bend your ear to learn something about e coli.
Thank you, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (19 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

E coli; escherichia coli is a bacteria that is normally present in intestine of humans and animals.
There are many strains most of them are harmless but some can be dangerous.
A strain of it, the O157:H7 can cause serious intestinal infection. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea and fever it can also lead to bloody diarrhea ,dehydration, or even kidney failure. People with weak immune system, pregnant women, children and elderly are more prone to develop complications.
Contaminated food or water is the culprit. Improper food handling like failing to wash hands before preparaing and eating food, consuming food that is not stored at right temperature, drinking unpasteurized milk, consuming raw products like fruits and vegetables that hasn'tbeen washed properly.
E coli can get into meat during processing if its notc cooked to 71'C then it will survive and can infect you.
Can also spread from person to person when infected person doesn't wash his or her hands aftet using the toilet.
Symptoms start appearing after 1-5 days you have been affected which include anorexia, nausea, abdominal cramping, watery diarrhea which may change into bloody , fatigue , fever.
Sever infection leads to bloody urine, decrease urine output, pale skin, bruising.
Dizziness can be present due to assosiated dehydration, lethargy, weakness.

Thanks

Dr M.S Khalil
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 2906 Questions

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Can E. Coli Infection Cause General Weakness?

Brief Answer: Depends upon severity of the infection Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome I appreciate your concern Weakness depends on the severity of the infection and whether marked septicaemia is present or not. Kindly answer the following to advise accordingly Have you tested positive for e coli on urine and blood culture. Do you have associated fever with the infection. Have CRP and ESR levels been done. Kindly upload the lab reports if possible. Let me know if you have any query Wishing you best of health Thanks Dr M.S Khalil.