The most common symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome include:
Other common symptoms may include:
In severe cases of HUS, damaged red blood cells can cause blood clots that damage your organs, especially your kidneys. This affects how well your kidneys can filter and eliminate waste from your body. If your kidneys can’t filter and eliminate waste, it can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI symptoms include:
Certain strains of the bacteria E. coli cause most cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome. These strains produce the toxin Shiga. Shiga damages the lining of your small intestine and causes diarrhea. It can also enter your bloodstream, destroy red blood cells and damage your kidneys. You’re more likely to get an E. coli infection when you eat spoiled, undercooked or poorly processed foods or drinks, such as:
Another name for these strains is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The most common STEC in North America is E. coli O157:H7, or E. coli O157.
In rare cases, certain medications and substances may cause secondary HUS as a side effect. These may include:
Advertisement
No, hemolytic uremic syndrome isn’t contagious. You can’t get HUS from person-to-person contact.
But E. coli is contagious. You can get it after consuming contaminated foods or drinks or coming into contact with a contaminated person’s or animal’s poop.
Anyone can develop HUS. But you’re more likely to develop it if you:
A healthcare provider will diagnose hemolytic uremic syndrome by:
If they suspect you have HUS, they’ll also order tests.
A healthcare provider may order the following tests to diagnose hemolytic uremic syndrome:
Advertisement
Tests look for the presence of different things that indicate hemolytic uremic syndrome:
You must get hemolytic uremic syndrome treatment at a hospital. Treatment may include:
Advertisement
If you have severe kidney damage, you may need dialysis to clean your blood while your kidneys heal. If HUS causes kidney failure, you may need a kidney transplant.
Yes, you can recover from hemolytic uremic syndrome without permanent damage to your health.
About 20% to 50% of children have mild chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 3% to 5% develop kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease). In adults, research estimates about 45% had CKD.
More than 85% of people with HUS recover complete kidney function. But, even if you make a full recovery, you may have high blood pressure or other kidney problems in the future.
With proper diagnosis and care, many people with HUS make a full recovery without any permanent damage to their health. But you have an increased chance of developing high blood pressure or other conditions that may affect your kidneys in the future.
Severe cases of HUS can be fatal without treatment, especially if HUS affects other organs like your brain.
With proper diagnosis and treatment, more than 90% of people survive hemolytic uremic syndrome.
You can help prevent an E. coli infection that causes hemolytic uremic syndrome by:
If you or your child has severe diarrhea, it’s important to try to rehydrate. Rehydration drinks help replace lost electrolytes. Babies and younger children may need breast (chest) milk or formula to rehydrate. Call a healthcare provider to help you determine the best way to keep your child hydrated
Contact a healthcare provider if you have:
Questions you may want to ask a healthcare provider include:
A triad is a group of three signs that indicate a medical condition.
The hemolytic uremic syndrome triad includes:
If you have diarrhea, it doesn’t mean you have hemolytic uremic syndrome. But see a healthcare provider if you have bloody diarrhea or severe diarrhea in which you can’t stay hydrated or it lasts longer than three days.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are similar disorders — TTP also causes blood clots to form in your small blood vessels. Previously, healthcare providers grouped HUS and TTP together. But they now recognize them as separate conditions.
Diarrhea is usually a short-term, but uncomfortable and annoying, condition that gets better after a day or two. But if you have bloody diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts for longer than three days and you feel tired, look pale and don’t pee a lot when you use the bathroom, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. Hemolytic uremic syndrome can severely damage your kidneys and affect other organs. The sooner you treat it, the less risk you have of developing lasting harm to your kidneys.
If you have a condition that’s affecting your kidneys, you want experts by your side. At Cleveland Clinic, we’ll work with you to craft a personalized treatment plan.
Last reviewed on 06/24/2024.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.