Vomiting can also occur, but there is usually no fever. An incubation period of less than 24 hours would be unusual, however. In most infected individuals, the intestinal illness lasts about a week and resolves without any long term problems. Antibiotics do not improve the illness, and some medical researchers believe that these medications can increase the risk of complications. Therefore, apart from good supportive care, such as close attention to hydration and nutrition, there is no specific therapy.
Most individuals recover within two weeks.
HUS was first described in 1955, and is now recognized as the most common cause of kidney failure in childhood. Some organs appear more susceptible than other to the damage caused by these toxins, possibly due to the presence of increased numbers of toxin-receptors. These organs include the kidney, pancreas, and brain. The active stage of the disease usually lasts one to two weeks, during which a variety of complications are possible. By comparison, the mortality rate in the developing world is much higher.