Generalities:

The haemolytic uraemic syndrome consists of an alteration of the blood with reduction of the red blood cells, which causes a renal failure, affecting mainly the children.

The disease is caused by toxins such as Shiga or verotoxin (STEC-HUS for its acronym in English). Bacterial infections in the intestinal tract are those that most often trigger the disease. However, it can be associated with infectious diseases elsewhere in the body. Certain medications such as mitomycin C or ticlopidine may favor the disease.

The symptoms that may occur are: blood in stool, irritability, fever, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, weakness, bruising, decrease or absence of urinary output, decreased consciousness, seizures.

Causes:

Various infectious agents such as E. coli and Shigella bacteria or Salmonella are the most common.