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Symptoms of enteropathogenic escherichiosis
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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The incubation period of enteropathogenic escherichiosis is about 5-8 days. In newborns and weakened children, as well as in case of massive infection, it can be shortened to 1-2 days.
Enteropathogenic escherichiosis can begin both acutely (with massive invasion and foodborne infection) and gradually, with enteritis (most often with contact-household infection). The stool is usually watery, yellow or orange, with a small amount of transparent mucus, abundant, mixed with water ("liquid gruel"), sometimes splashing, moistening the entire diaper. On the diaper, after absorbing water, the stool often seems normal, the mucus disappears. The stool can be mushy, foamy, with a small amount of greenery.
The most constant symptom of enteropathogenic escherichiosis is vomiting 1-2 times a day or persistent regurgitation, which appear from the first day of the disease. All clinical symptoms usually increase gradually and are most pronounced on the 5th-7th day of the disease - the condition worsens, adynamia increases, appetite decreases to anorexia. The frequency of regurgitation (or vomiting) increases. Body temperature remains at subfebrile (or febrile) numbers for up to 1-2 weeks or more, stool frequency increases to 10-15 times a day or more, dehydration symptoms increase. Toxicosis with exsicosis develops in most children, often reaching grade II-III (with a body weight deficit of more than 10%), most often salt-deficient. These children have subnormal body temperature, cold extremities, acrocyanosis. toxic breath, tachycardia and muffled heart sounds, often clouding or loss of consciousness, convulsions. The mucous membranes are dry, bright, the skin fold does not straighten out, the large fontanelle is sunken. Acute renal, adrenal insufficiency, DIC syndrome and infectious toxic shock are possible.
On external examination, abdominal distension (flatulence), rumbling along the small intestine, and pale skin are characteristic. The liver and spleen enlarge only in severe, toxic-septic forms of the disease or in the development of sepsis. The anus is closed, the skin around the anus and on the buttocks is irritated to the point of maceration. The severity of symptoms of intoxication, exsicosis, and diarrhea syndrome varies significantly from mild to very severe, leading to death.
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