E. Coli Strikes Two Young Boys
Two young Alabama boys have been hospitalized after being exposed to a dangerous strain of the E. coli bacteria. The two boys, brothers ages 4 and 7, are currently listed in good condition at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham. The Press-Register reports that the younger child began showing symptoms of infection on May 15. His older brother began showing symptoms on May 20.
The boys, of Spanish Fort, Alabama, were originally taken to the Mobile Infirmary, but were taken to the Children’s Hospital when the 4-year-old’s kidneys began to fail. His symptoms began on May 15, experiencing diarrhea which later developed into bloody diarrhea. The older boy also experienced similar symptoms starting May 20.
The Alabama Department of Public Health has not identified the source of exposure. Investigation is currently underway in a similar case.
