Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that can cause extreme cramps and diarrhea when ingested. It is usually transmitted through raw or undercooked food, such as rare beef or unpasteurized milk, though there also are other ways of becoming infected. The primary E. coli treatment is simply to wait for the diarrhea to stop, making sure in the meantime to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. There is no specific medicine used as an E. coli treatment, though seeing a doctor for an official diagnosis is recommended to ensure that the wait-it-out treatment approach is the correct one. Severe cases may require hospitalization.
Once E. coli is confirmed, patients are usually encouraged to stay home and rest while the bacterium leaves the intestinal tract via the diarrhea. Drinking clear liquids such as water, clear soda and broth is advised to avoid dehydration. Some patients may notice that their stools are bloody, which is usually a result of the E. coli creating sores in the intestines. While this alone is not abnormal, patients who experience this symptom combined with a mild fever, nausea and vomiting should return to the doctor. This is because weaker patients, including babies and the elderly, may need intravenous fluids to avoid dehydration.
While waiting for the infection to run its course, patients are usually advised to avoid foods and beverages that stimulate the colon to relieve itself. Thus, patients are often told to avoid prune juice, apple juice, milk and caffeine. Spicy foods, alcohol and high-fiber items tend to irritate the intestines, so they also should be avoided during E. coli treatment.
Some medications also are to be avoided, because they can hinder E. coli treatment. For example, patients should not take anti-diarrheal medications, because stopping the watery stools can end up keeping the bacteria inside the body longer. Antibiotics are believed by some medical practitioners to do more harm than good and also are generally not advised. Cleanliness is another important aspect of E. coli treatment, because the bacterium is easily transmitted and can infect others in the household or re-infect the patient.
Patients rarely stick to their normal diet when treating E. coli, because they typically feel too sick to eat, especially if they also are vomiting. Many end up following a liquid diet. Once patients begin feeling better, though, they are encouraged to return slowly to their normal eating habits, ingesting mainly bland foods at first. For example, plain toast, crackers and rice are all usually considered easy to eat when completing E. coli treatment. Though most people recover fine from the home treatment of E. coli, patients should keep their doctor informed of their condition, especially if symptoms don't begin to improve within a few days or actually worsen.
