HUS is a life-threatening condition, usually treated in an intensive care unit. Blood transfusions and kidney dialysis are often required. With intensive care, the death rate for HUS is three to five per cent. Another eight per cent of persons with HUS have lifelong complications, including high blood pressure, seizures, blindness, paralysis and the effects of having part of their bowel removed. Most people recover without antibiotics or other specific treatment in five to 10 days.
Doctors recommend avoiding anti-diarrheal medication.
It is important to avoid dehydration. The patient should drink plenty of fluids, and keep their doctor informed of their symptoms. An experimental therapy called Synsorb from a company in Calgary is currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials. The drug is designed to bind the toxin in the gastrointestinal tract so it can be excreted harmlessly. Researchers are also trying to develop immunization.