How To Treat E. Coli

Drink Lots Of Clear Fluids

Staying hydrated helps flush E. coli out of your system. Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration quite quickly, especially in young, elderly, malnourished, and underweight individuals. Drink a lot of clear liquids to stay hydrated, such as water and low sugar electrolyte drinks. Another great choice is ginger ale, as it can help with nausea while it hydrates. Because you’re losing so many fluids, the standard eight glasses a day likely isn’t enough.

To judge how much fluid you need, look at your urine to ensure you’re hydrated enough. Hydrated urine will be either pale yellow or clear, but dehydrated urine will be a darker amber color. A complication that affects around five to ten percent of E. coli cases, most of whom are children, is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening kidney complication that occurs from dehydration and decreased urination, and requires immediate medical attention.