Three Hardin County, Ky. children are among a group of five who have been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication of E.coli infections that causes kidney failure, seizure, stroke and coma. The children, who range in age from 18 months to 10 years old, are part of an outbreak that also includes one child from Nelson County and another from Oldham.
Hardin and Nelson counties are in the central part of the state. Oldham is northeast of Louisville on the state’s border with Indiana. Health authorities have not yet identified a source of the outbreak or determined if the cases may be linked to recent cases in Oregon and Washington.
Three Oregon children with E. coli infections were hospitalized with HUS at the beginning of this month. Aubrie Utter, 3, underwent five blood transfusions during her weeklong hospitalization and was released. Brad Sutton, 5, has been undergoing dialysis and remains hospitalized. Serena Profitt, 4, died on Monday. All three of those children spent time near the same river and all three ate watermelon purchased at Walmart before they got sick.
Symptoms of the E. coli infection develop between one and 10 days of exposure and include stomach cramps,
and diarrhea that is often bloody. If your child has bloody diarrhea seek medical care right away.
Past E.coli outbreaks have been linked to undercooked beef, unpasteurized drinks, dairy products, fresh produce, swimming areas and petting zoos.
