Some things increase your risk of getting infected with E.coli and suffering serious complications of the infection. It's good to know whether you are in this group so that you can take precautions when dining out and also seek prompt medical care if you suspect an E.coli infection. Here are four things that heighten your risk of E.coli infection and its related complications:
You Have a Weak Immune System
Most people recover from E.coli infections without experiencing dangerous complications. This is because, in most cases, the immune system is strong enough to fight off the infection. This means those who have weak immune systems are more likely to suffer serious complications from the disease than those who have strong immune systems. Some of the things that may weaken your immunity include cancer treatment drugs, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and stress, among other health conditions.
It's The Summer
Summer may be all bright and warm, but increases your risk of contracting E.coli bacterial infections. It is not clear why, but the summer season experiences a surge in bacterial infections, especially those that cause gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary tract infections. Thus, when the summer season starts, you need to be on the lookout for symptoms of E.coli infections and seek medical care if you notice any of them.
You Are In Your Sunset Years
Everybody can get an E.coli infection, but children and the elderly are more likely to develop serious complications from it than young adults. Therefore, you need to be extra careful regarding your risk of E.coli infection if you are a senior. This is because as you age, your gastrointestinal tract weakens, you develop multiple medical conditions and your immune system weakens.
You like At-Risk Foods
Any food can be contaminated with E.coli, but some foods experience more cases of E.coli contamination than others. Examples of these riskier foods include unpasteurized milk, apple juice (cider), undercooked meat, and soft cheeses. Therefore, if these are your favorite foods and you eat them a lot, you are more at risk of contracting the E.coli diseases than other people who don't eat the foods as much as you do.
In every personal injury case, the plaintiff needs to show that they mitigated their losses and did not do anything to aggravate the situation. Therefore, if you have been infected with E.coli, you need to get prompt medical attention to reduce your chances of experiencing its complications. Failure to do that would reduce your chances of getting a sizable recovery from the liable party. For more information, contact a business such as Fitzsimmons & Vervaecke Law Firm.