Abstract
A prospective study in 87 household contacts of 51 children with HUS was performed, with the aim of determining evidence of infection with Shiga-like toxin producing bacteria. Gastrointestinal tract symptoms were present in only 1/87 contacts. DNA hybridization studies of fecal E.coli isolates from 80 of these 87 contacts were positive in 6. Free fecal cytotoxin was detected in 25/64 (39%) of the household members. In 58 out of the 77 (75%) serum samples available in the household contacts, serum neutralizing titers of 1:4 to one or both toxins, was detected. Seroconversion was found in 10/24 (42%). These data show that household contacts of children with hemolytic uremic syndrome are commonly positive to Shiga-like toxin produced by E.coli. Seroconversion to these toxins occurs frequently in family members of children with hemolytic uremic syndrome.
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López, E., Grinstein, S., Woloj, M. et al. FREE FECAL TOXIN AND SEROCONVERSION IN HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS OF CHILDREN WITH THE HEMOLITIC UREMIC SYNDROME (HUS). Pediatr Res 28, 557 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199011000-00033
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199011000-00033