Enteropathisches hämolytisch-urämisches Syndrom : Sporadischer Einzelfall oder Teil eines Krankheitsausbruchs? (Originalien)

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by acute renal failure, hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. More than 80% of pediatric HUS is caused by infection with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). EHEC-associated HUS mainly affects children under six years of age. HUS patients should be treated in specialized clinics, which are able to provide dialysis. Importantly, sporadic cases of HUS can signalize outbreaks of EHEC infections. In Germany, a rare sorbitol-fermenting variant of EHEC O157 caused several large HUS outbreaks with fatal cases. Physicians are required to notify every suspected, confirmed or fatal case of HUS to their local health department, thereby enabling public health authorities to intervene promptly. This article describes the epidemic aspects of EHEC-associated HUS and assists physicians and pediatricians in terms of timely diagnosis and notification.