Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Alternate Names : HUS
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
The primary symptoms of HUS include:
diarrhea. This may be profuse and watery, and is often bloody. It may be accompanied by vomiting and abdominal distress. At first the condition may resemble the stomach flu, but then the child becomes very ill. Later symptoms include lethargy, irritability and paleness.
decreased urine output, due to kidney damage. There may also be signs of fluid retention in the body. These may include swelling of the extremities and eyelids, shortness of breath, and high blood pressure.
bleeding. A large amount of bleeding is rare. However, small quantities of blood may ooze from the puncture site when blood is drawn for testing. A flat rash of red or purple dots, called petechiae, may appear. The person may also have large areas of bruising.
brain dysfunction, which is more common in types of HUS not linked to diarrhea. This may cause irritability, lethargy, cognitive impairment, coma, seizures, and brain swelling.
Other symptoms are related to the underlying cause. For example, some cases are related to pregnancy, in which case diarrhea may not occur.
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