Seven Sacramento County children were sickened with E. coli in June. A source of the illnesses was not identified but three who were hospitalized were treated and released.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection include abdominal cramps, diarrhea that can be bloody and vomiting. Symptoms usually develop within three days of exposure and last up to a week.
The three children who were hospitalized had developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) a complication that develops in a small percentage of pediatric E. coli cases. HUS can cause kidney failure, seizure, stroke and coma.
Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Laura McCasland told Food Poisoning Bulletin today that food from restaurants and grocery stores, raw milk from herd shares and contact with animals at petting zoos were all ruled out as possible sources of the illnesses.
