The first symptoms of STEC HUS are linked to gastroenteritis (commonly called a stomach bug) and include:
- diarrhoea that lasts for several days. Blood may appear in your child’s poo (faeces) after a few days of diarrhoea.
- passing less urine than normal urinating
- feeling and/or being sick
- stomach pain
- swelling or puffiness (oedema) in different parts of the body, especially around the eyes, legs and feet
- high temperature (over 38˚C), often with excessive sweating and/or shivers
Your child may feel more tired than usual or look very pale.
Some children develop pinhead-sized red or purple spots on the skin.
In 1 in 4 children with STEC HUS the brain is affected. This can have an impact on how your child sees, thinks or moves. They may need special brain scans if this happens.
STEC HUS can also affect the gut, heart and pancreas, which can lead to diabetes. This usually gets better with treatment.