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Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

E. coli and Brain Damage:
Complications of HUS and TTP

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We have represented E. coli victims with E. coli HUS, E. coli TTP and HUS-TTP. HUS is more common in children and TTP, in adults. In many of our cases, our clients suffered some brain damage.

E. coli Answer BookE. coli food poisoning can cause both hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). HUS is characterized by damage and destruction of the red blood cells, which leads to a lower than normal number of red blood cells (a condition called anemia), blood clots, and damage to blood vessel walls. TTP occurs when too many platelets are destroyed. With TTP, tiny thrombi (blood clots) form in blood vessels throughout the body, but particularly in the central nervous system (CNS) and kidneys. Because the formation of the thrombi (blood clots) uses an abnormally high number of platelets, the number of platelets in the bloodstream decreases to dangerously low levels.

Seizures

Seizures are often the first sign that an E. coli infection has injured the brain. Seizures can also occur at any point, even after an apparent recovery. The mortality rate for E. coli victims who experience seizures and/or coma is higher.

HUS seizures are usually brief and easy to control, but a child with HUS may experience status epilepticus, a prolonged seizure or a series of seizures where the child does not regain consciousness. 

Stroke

There are two categories of HUS stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic:

  • Ischemic strokes are either thrombtic or embolic. The ischemic strokes associated with HUS or TTP are thrombotic strokes, which are strokes caused by a thrombus (blood clot) that develops in the arteries supplying blood to the brain. Thrombotic stroke is also referred to as cerebral thrombosis or cerebral infarction.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in your brain leaks or ruptures. Hemorrhagic stroke in an E. coli patient is usually related to HUS kidney failure (renal failure). When the kidneys fail, toxins the body should have excreted in urine get into the blood and circulate throughout the body. These toxins can damage the brain and cause a stroke.

Coma

As with stroke and seizures, the toxins in the blood stream because of the renal failure can cause a coma. There are varying degrees of consciousness. The Glasgow Coma Scale is used to determine the level of coma. The total Glasgow Coma Scale score range is 3-15—the higher the score, the less responsive the patient. A patient with a score of 3-8 is generally considered to be in a coma. Read more about HUS coma and the Glasgow Coma Scale.

A medically induced coma may be used for E. coli victims with uncontrollable seizures.

HUS Encephalopathy

Encephalopathy is a term used when there is brain disfunction or alteration. HUS encephalopathy is usually related to the uremia associated with HUS kidney failure (renal failure). When uremia is the cause of the encephalopathy, it is called uremic encephalopathy, metabolic encephalopathy or toxic-metabolic encepalopathy. See also, E. coli meningitis.

Free Consultation with Lawyer

Our lawyers have a national reputation in the area of food poisoning litigation and have been interviewed and quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Lawyers USA and others. To contact an E. coli lawyer for a free consultation, call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online consultation form.

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