Escherichia coli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Escherichia coli |
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E. coli
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| Escherichia coli (Migula 1895) Castellani and Chalmers 1919
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Escherichia coli or E. coli is a tiny living thing called a bacterium. You can find it in the intestines of humans and many animals. Scientists have studied E. coli a lot. They know more about how E. coli cells work than almost any other living thing. Most types of E. coli are not bad for you. Only one type, called O157, is known to cause harm. E. coli is a prokaryotic organism, which means it's a very simple cell without a nucleus.
E. coli usually lives in soil. It also lives in the large intestines of many mammals, including people. Most types of E. coli do not cause disease. Instead, they help animals get vitamins and digest their food. Some types of E. coli can make people sick.
E. coli is not usually found in food or water. If food is not made with clean tools, E. coli can grow in it. If E. coli is found in water, it might mean the water has touched sewage.
This bacterium is named after Theodor Escherich. He found it in 1885. It was officially named after him in 1919.
What are the Signs of E. coli Infection?
If someone gets an E. coli infection, they might feel sick. These signs usually appear within three days. However, some people can carry the infection without showing any signs at all.
- Pain in the abdomen (stomach area)
- Diarrhea (loose, watery poop)
- Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
- Vomiting (throwing up)
- Fever (high body temperature)
- Fatigue (feeling very tired)
The best way to treat an E. coli infection is to drink lots of fluids. This helps to avoid dehydration, which means losing too much water from your body.
Images for kids
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Model of how E. coli cells divide.
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E. coli growing on a special dish called sheep blood agar.
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E. coli growing on different types of growth media.
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An early image of E. coli taken with an electron microscope.
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A special microscope image showing tiny viruses called T4 phage attacking E. coli. Some viruses have injected their DNA. The bacteria are very tiny, about 0.5 micrometers wide.
See also
In Spanish: Escherichia coli para niños
