Bloody Stool
Since E. coli infections are associated with diarrhea that comes with cramps, it may eventually in some cases, progress to bloody diarrhea[7] (hemorrhagic colitis [8]) within 24 hours). They may also often feel an urge to defecate, but they may not succeed.
People suffering from bloody diarrhea or severe abdominal cramps are advised to seek medical attention as soon as they can.
Fever, Nausea, and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are some of the very onsets of symptoms seen in E. coli infection. [9] They usually manifest in the first few days of infection (3 – 4 days). The incubation period lasts from 3 to 8 days, with an average duration of 3-4 days. It is during this period that the symtoms of nausea start to show up and the patients may also start to fever. While not all persons infected with E. coli experience the development of fever, people that have a fever don’t usually develop a very high temperature. Fever associated with E. coli infection is usually a bit high but still below 101˚F/38.5˚C. [10]
Other equally important symptoms that may be noticed are:
- Loss of appetite.
- General malaise and tiredness.