Definition of Hemorrhagic diarrhea, E. coli

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Hemorrhagic diarrhea, E. coli: Bloody colitis (inflammation of the bowel) caused by E. coli, usually by the strain E. coli 0157:H7.

The diarrhea is severe with painful abdominal cramps, gross blood in the stool, and lasts for 6 to 8 days.

Most commonly, E. coli 01257:H7 comes from eating raw or undercooked ground beef (hamburger) or from drinking raw milk or contaminated water. Less commonly, E coli O157:H7 can be transmitted from one person to another.