--- title: Symptoms of HUS date: 2021-01-24T15:04:00-08:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/hus-symptoms-risks" section: Resource Library --- [Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome) / # Symptoms of HUS ### What are the signs and symptoms of Post-Diarrheal Hemolytic Syndrome (D+HUS) and how is the diagnosis made? The bowel inflammation that occurs prior to the onset of HUS is generally referred to as the “prodrome.” Usually within a week (although the range can be one to 10 days) after ingesting STEC, the colon becomes severely inflamed, causing diarrhea that frequently becomes bloody. A stool specimen obtained within the first 10 days of illness is usually positive for *E. coli* O157:H7 or Shiga toxin. However, in many patients, the window for capturing *E. coli* O157:H7 is narrow. During the prodromal phase of HUS, the initial diagnosis is often acute surgical abdomen, acute appendicitis, or ulcerative colitis. Large bowel inflammation (colitis) can be mistaken for acute appendicitis because the site of intense inflammation is in the right lower part of the abdomen. If an appendectomy results, the appendix is almost always found to be normal, but the surrounding bowel is swollen and hemorrhagic. If a colonoscopy is conducted, severe inflammation, ulceration, and pseudomembranes (comprised of sloughed mucosal cells, white blood cells, and fibrin) are found. If computerized tomography (CT) of the abdomen is performed, a thickened (inflamed) colon is usually identified. After several days of diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia (secondary to the destruction of red blood cells), and acute kidney injury converge to form the trilogy that defines HUS. ![](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/abouthuscom-images/outbreaks/image4.jpeg)### What are the physical signs and laboratory values on admission to the hospital with HUS? Physical findings on admission to the hospital may include lethargy, abdominal tenderness, blood spots or skin hemorrhages (purpura), swelling, or dehydration. Features on admission that portend a severe or fatal outcome include coma, rectal prolapse, decreased or absent urine output, or an elevated white blood cell count (WBC)—one greater than 20 x 10^9/L (i.e. greater than 20,000 per liter). [ Next: Treatment for HUS › ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/hus-treatment) ### More Information [August 13, 2026 ###### Cyclospora and the 2026 Taylor Farms Outbreak: Questions and Answers Marler Clark represents people sickened in the 2026 Cyclospora outbreak and has filed cases naming Taylor Farms entities as defendants. The answers below are written for people trying to understand ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/cyclospora-and-the-2026-taylor-farms-outbreak-questions-and-answers) [August 13, 2026 ###### Salmonella and the 2026 Jalapeño Outbreak: Frequently Asked Questions Marler Clark — The Food Safety Law Firm | Updated August 13, 2026 The questions below come in two parts. The first covers Salmonella generally — what it does, how ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/salmonella-and-the-2026-jalape%C3%B1o-outbreak-frequently-asked-questions) [August 08, 2026 ###### FAQ's: The 2026 Cyclospora Outbreak: Questions and Answers for the Public Updated Saturday, August 8, 2026. Everything below is drawn from the federal and state health department pages linked in the answers, and the numbers move, so check the links before ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/faqs-the-2026-cyclospora-outbreak-questions-and-answers-for-the-public) [July 27, 2026 ###### The Cyclospora Lawsuits Have Begun On July 16, health officials linked shredded lettuce sold at US-based Taco Bell restaurants to the cyclosporiasis outbreak. Within hours, the lawsuits began. At least four lawsuits have been filed ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/the-cyclospora-lawsuits-have-begun) [1. View all ](/news_events/outbreaks?illness=e-coli&year=all) ## All Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Resources [###### Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/about-hus) [###### Symptoms of HUS ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/hus-symptoms-risks) [###### Treatment for HUS ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/hus-treatment) [###### HUS Outcomes ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/about-hus-outcomes) [###### HUS and Kidney Transplantation ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/about-hus-kidney-transplantation) [###### HUS Research ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/hus-research) [###### HUS References ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/hus-references) ### Other foodborne illnesses [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora)