Almost two weeks
\nafter the first case of haemolytic uremic syndrome in new-born children was
\nreported in Arges county, southern Romania, the cause of the infection is still
\nunknown. Tests have eliminated as possible causes the water, formula milk and
\nfruit ingested by the sick children, whose age varies from 7 to 18 months.
\nTests will continue on other food products of animal origin that might have
\ncaused the infection. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Mihaela
\nBalgradean, the head of the nephrology department at the Marie Curie Hospital
\nin Bucharest, where some of the children are now being treated, says it will be
\ndifficult to find the exact cause of the disease. She explained that the
\nhaemolytic uremic syndrome consists of a period of incubation, followed by
\ndiarrhoea, so the strain is hard to track down after all this time. Only its
\ntoxin remains, which is responsible for the violent manifestation of the
\ndisease. Balgradean also says that no trace of E-coli strain has been found in
\nthe sick children that would explain their condition. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The president of
\nthe Romanian Society of Microbiology, doctor Alexandru Rafila, also explains
\nwhy the infection could not be traced in the other children:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
On the one
\nhand, too much time has elapsed between the onset of the infection and testing,
\nwhile on the other, some of the children have received antibiotic treatment,
\nwhich makes is impossible to trace the microorganism responsible.
\nUnfortunately, it is not always possible to identify the source of the
\ninfection. Finding the source is the best solution, because we can then cut off
\nthe route of transmission.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Doctor Alexandru
\nRafila says the final results of the investigation are expected within the next
\ntwo weeks. He has also emphasised that to prevent such situations from ever
\nhappening again, hospitals must report suspicious cases as soon as possible and
\ncooperate with public health services. The situation is complicated even for
\nthe infants who have survived the infection and are soon to be released from
\nhospital. They will have to be monitored for at least another year. Doctors say
\nthere is a chance they may develop some form of kidney failure in the future. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The good news is
\nthat no new cases have been reported in recent days. The National Public Health
\nInstitute has contacted the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
\nand a group of experts may come to Romania to assist in the efforts to find the
\ncause of infection. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Government to start an inquiry into the cases of haemolytic uremic syndrome that developed in a number of children in Romania, some of whom have died as a result.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":67427,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[38351],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-67426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news","tag-haemolytic-uremic-syndrome"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n