Some infected people may have mild diarrhea or no symptoms at all. Most identified cases develop severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Blood is often seen in the stool. Usually little or no fever is present. The symptoms usually appear about three days after exposure, with a range of one to nine days.
Most persons recover without antibiotics or other specific treatment in five to ten days.
The usefulness of antibiotic treatment is unproven, and anti-diarrheal medication should be avoided. As with all types of diarrhea, it is important to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids, and keep your doctor informed of your symptoms. This is a serious disease in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. Transfusions of blood or blood clotting factors as well as kidney dialysis may be necessary. A prolonged hospital stay is often required.