These products were indeed the cause of several dozen cases of E-coli infections which caused the death of 2 children.
- Forty cases of E-coli infection have been identified since February
- Two children have died from this infection.
- The products in question, Buitoni brand pizzas, have been identified
The products had been withdrawn from sale due to doubts about their responsibility in several cases of E-Coli infections affecting children: and it is indeed pizzas from the Buitoni brand which are at the origin of several tens of cases of contamination since the end of February causing haemolytic uraemic syndrome in children. This was confirmed on March 30 by the General Directorate of Health by asking those who hold these “Fraich’up” pizzas not to consume them. Two children died as a result of these infections, some 40 of which were identified in a few weeks, leading to the opening of an investigation by the health authorities.
Poisoning with E.coli bacteria is manifested by diarrhea often accompanied by blood, abdominal pain and sometimes vomiting. These symptoms can progress, after about a week, to a severe form of the infection (HUS) in about 10% of children. This haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) is the complication of a virulent Escherichia coli digestive toxi-infection, most often of food origin. HUS manifests itself at the extreme ages of life, especially in young children under 3 years of age. Digestive infection is secondary to food contamination) Escherichia coli, some strains of which are more virulent and produce toxins, “shiga-toxins”. These bacteria are also called “enterohaemorrhagic E. coli” or “EHEC”.
HUS, a serious complication of an episode of diarrhea
The typical hemolytic-uremic syndrome therefore constitutes a serious complication of an episode of diarrhoea, often bloody, which can evolve in 10% of cases towards a general picture associating malaise, various disorders and kidney dysfunction.
If most of the time, food poisoning is mild, enterohemorrhagic E. coli digestive infection can be serious in young children and frail elderly people. This is because small blood clots can form in the body due to dysregulation of the coagulation system (“complement system”), which may clog blood vessels and stop the flow of blood to vital organs, such as the brain, heart and kidneys, with variable manifestations depending on the organs affected.
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