Definition of Diarrhea, E. coli hemorrhagic
Diarrhea, E. coli hemorrhagic: 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.