BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHemolytic-uremic syndromeHUS; STEC-HUS; Hemolytic-uremic syndromeShiga-like toxin producing E coli hemolytic-uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) is a disorder that most often occurs when an infection in the digestive system produces toxic substances. These substances destroy red blood cells and cause kidney injury. Causes Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) often occurs after a gastrointestinal infection with E coli bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7). However, the condition has also been linked to other gastrointestinal infections, including shigella and salmonella. It has also been linked to non-gastrointestinal infections.ShigellaShigellosis is a bacterial infection of the lining of the intestines. It is caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SalmonellaSalmonella enterocolitis is a bacterial infection in the lining of the small intestine that is caused by Salmonella bacteria. It is a type of food p...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HUS is most common in children. It is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in children. Several large outbreaks have been linked to undercooked hamburger meat contaminated with E coli.E coli can be transmitted through:Contact from one person to another Consuming uncooked food, such as milk products or beefSTEC-HUS is not to be confused with atypical HUS (aHUS) which is not infection-related. It is similar to another disease called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpuraThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a blood disorder in which platelet clumps form in small blood vessels. This leads to a low platelet cou...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms STEC-HUS often begins with vomiting and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Within a week, the person may become weak and irritable. People with this condition may urinate less than normal. Urine output may almost stop.Red blood cell destruction leads to symptoms of anemia.AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Early symptoms:Blood in the stools Blood in the stoolsBlack or tarry stools with a foul smell are a sign of a problem in the upper digestive tract. It most often indicates that there is bleeding in the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Irritability Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lethargy LethargyFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting and diarrhea VomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article WeaknessWeaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Later symptoms:Bruising BruisingBleeding into the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in la...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased consciousness Decreased consciousnessDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low urine output Low urine outputDecreased urine output means that you produce less urine than normal. Most adults make at least 500 milliliters of urine in 24 hours (a little over ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article No urine output Pallor PallorPaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Seizures -- rare SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Skin rash that looks like fine red spots (petechiae)PetechiaeBleeding into the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in la...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may show:Liver or spleen swelling Nervous system changes Laboratory tests will show signs of hemolytic anemia and acute renal failure. Tests may include:Hemolytic anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Acute renal failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood clotting tests (PT and PTT) PTProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PTTPartial thromboplastin time (PTT) is a blood test that looks at how long it takes for blood to clot. It can help tell if you have a bleeding problem...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Comprehensive metabolic panel may show increased levels of BUN and creatinine Comprehensive metabolic panelA comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BUNBUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. A test can be done to measure the amount of urea nitrogen ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CreatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) may show increased white blood cell count and decreased red blood cell count Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Platelet count is usually reduced Platelet countA platelet count is a lab test to measure how many platelets you have in your blood. Platelets are particles in the blood that help the blood clot. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Review of a blood smear, which shows deformed and fragmented red blood cells Urinalysis may reveal blood and protein in the urine UrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urine protein test can show the amount of protein in the urine Urine proteinThe urine protein dipstick test measures the presence of all proteins, including albumin, in a urine sample. Albumin and protein can also be measured...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests:Stool culture may be positive for a certain type of E coli bacteria or other bacteria Stool cultureA fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Colonoscopy ColonoscopyA colonoscopy is an exam that views the inside of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using a tool called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a sm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney biopsy (in rare cases)Kidney biopsyA kidney biopsy is the removal of a small piece of kidney tissue for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment may involve:Dialysis Medicines, such as corticosteroids Management of fluids and electrolytes Transfusions of packed red blood cells and platelets Outlook (Prognosis) This is a serious illness in both children and adults, and it can cause death. With proper treatment, more than half of people will recover. The outcome is better in children than adults. Possible Complications Complications may include:Blood clotting problems Hemolytic anemia Hemolytic anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failure Hypertension leading to seizures, irritability, and other nervous system problems Too few platelets (thrombocytopenia) ThrombocytopeniaThrombocytopenia means there is an abnormally low amount of platelets. Platelets are parts of the blood that help blood to clot. This condition is ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article UremiaUremiaPrerenal azotemia is an abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of HUS. Emergency symptoms include:Blood in the stool No urination Reduced alertness (consciousness) Contact your provider if you have had an episode of HUS and your urine output decreases, or you develop other new symptoms. Prevention You can prevent the known cause, E coli, by cooking hamburger and other meats well. You should also avoid contact with unclean water and follow proper hand washing methods.Open ReferencesReferencesAlexander T, Licht C, Smoyer WE, Rosenblum ND. Diseases of the kidney and upper urinary tract in children. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap: 72.George G, Friedman KD. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and the hemolytic uremic syndromes. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 132.Mele C, Noris M, Remuzzi G. Hemolytic uremic syndrome. In: Ronco C, Bellomo R, Kellum JA, Ricci Z, eds. Critical Care Nephrology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 50.AllVideoImagesTogMale urinary system - illustration The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, urethra and bladder.Male urinary systemillustrationMale urinary system - illustration The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, urethra and bladder.Male urinary systemillustrationRelated Information Acute kidney failure(Condition)Hemolytic anemia(Condition)Thrombocytopenia(Condition)Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura(Condition)Hemolysis(Special Topic)Anemia(Condition)Paleness(Symptoms)Chronic kidney disease(Condition)Prerenal azotemia(Condition)Anemia - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 3/31/2024 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Hemolytic-uremic syndromeHUS; STEC-HUS; Hemolytic-uremic syndromeShiga-like toxin producing E coli hemolytic-uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) is a disorder that most often occurs when an infection in the digestive system produces toxic substances. These substances destroy red blood cells and cause kidney injury. Causes Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) often occurs after a gastrointestinal infection with E coli bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7). However, the condition has also been linked to other gastrointestinal infections, including shigella and salmonella. It has also been linked to non-gastrointestinal infections.ShigellaShigellosis is a bacterial infection of the lining of the intestines. It is caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SalmonellaSalmonella enterocolitis is a bacterial infection in the lining of the small intestine that is caused by Salmonella bacteria. It is a type of food p...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HUS is most common in children. It is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in children. Several large outbreaks have been linked to undercooked hamburger meat contaminated with E coli.E coli can be transmitted through:Contact from one person to another Consuming uncooked food, such as milk products or beefSTEC-HUS is not to be confused with atypical HUS (aHUS) which is not infection-related. It is similar to another disease called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpuraThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a blood disorder in which platelet clumps form in small blood vessels. This leads to a low platelet cou...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms STEC-HUS often begins with vomiting and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Within a week, the person may become weak and irritable. People with this condition may urinate less than normal. Urine output may almost stop.Red blood cell destruction leads to symptoms of anemia.AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Early symptoms:Blood in the stools Blood in the stoolsBlack or tarry stools with a foul smell are a sign of a problem in the upper digestive tract. It most often indicates that there is bleeding in the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Irritability Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lethargy LethargyFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting and diarrhea VomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article WeaknessWeaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Later symptoms:Bruising BruisingBleeding into the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in la...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased consciousness Decreased consciousnessDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low urine output Low urine outputDecreased urine output means that you produce less urine than normal. Most adults make at least 500 milliliters of urine in 24 hours (a little over ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article No urine output Pallor PallorPaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Seizures -- rare SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Skin rash that looks like fine red spots (petechiae)PetechiaeBleeding into the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in la...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may show:Liver or spleen swelling Nervous system changes Laboratory tests will show signs of hemolytic anemia and acute renal failure. Tests may include:Hemolytic anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Acute renal failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood clotting tests (PT and PTT) PTProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PTTPartial thromboplastin time (PTT) is a blood test that looks at how long it takes for blood to clot. It can help tell if you have a bleeding problem...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Comprehensive metabolic panel may show increased levels of BUN and creatinine Comprehensive metabolic panelA comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BUNBUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. A test can be done to measure the amount of urea nitrogen ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CreatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) may show increased white blood cell count and decreased red blood cell count Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Platelet count is usually reduced Platelet countA platelet count is a lab test to measure how many platelets you have in your blood. Platelets are particles in the blood that help the blood clot. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Review of a blood smear, which shows deformed and fragmented red blood cells Urinalysis may reveal blood and protein in the urine UrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urine protein test can show the amount of protein in the urine Urine proteinThe urine protein dipstick test measures the presence of all proteins, including albumin, in a urine sample. Albumin and protein can also be measured...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests:Stool culture may be positive for a certain type of E coli bacteria or other bacteria Stool cultureA fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Colonoscopy ColonoscopyA colonoscopy is an exam that views the inside of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using a tool called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a sm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney biopsy (in rare cases)Kidney biopsyA kidney biopsy is the removal of a small piece of kidney tissue for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment may involve:Dialysis Medicines, such as corticosteroids Management of fluids and electrolytes Transfusions of packed red blood cells and platelets Outlook (Prognosis) This is a serious illness in both children and adults, and it can cause death. With proper treatment, more than half of people will recover. The outcome is better in children than adults. Possible Complications Complications may include:Blood clotting problems Hemolytic anemia Hemolytic anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failure Hypertension leading to seizures, irritability, and other nervous system problems Too few platelets (thrombocytopenia) ThrombocytopeniaThrombocytopenia means there is an abnormally low amount of platelets. Platelets are parts of the blood that help blood to clot. This condition is ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article UremiaUremiaPrerenal azotemia is an abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of HUS. Emergency symptoms include:Blood in the stool No urination Reduced alertness (consciousness) Contact your provider if you have had an episode of HUS and your urine output decreases, or you develop other new symptoms. Prevention You can prevent the known cause, E coli, by cooking hamburger and other meats well. You should also avoid contact with unclean water and follow proper hand washing methods.Open ReferencesReferencesAlexander T, Licht C, Smoyer WE, Rosenblum ND. Diseases of the kidney and upper urinary tract in children. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap: 72.George G, Friedman KD. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and the hemolytic uremic syndromes. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 132.Mele C, Noris M, Remuzzi G. Hemolytic uremic syndrome. In: Ronco C, Bellomo R, Kellum JA, Ricci Z, eds. Critical Care Nephrology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 50.