NEHA Foodborne Illness Practice Exam

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection is primarily known for causing hemorrhagic colitis, which is characterized by severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. This type of infection is often linked to the consumption of undercooked ground beef or contaminated produce, and it can lead to more serious complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome. The hallmark of hemorrhagic colitis is the presence of blood in the stool, which distinguishes it from other types of diarrhea.

High fever is typically not a prominent symptom of EHEC infections. In many cases, these infections present with low-grade fever or no fever at all. Additionally, rice-water stools are indicative of cholera and are not associated with EHEC. Profuse watery diarrhea is more characteristic of infections caused by other pathogens like enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) or Vibrio cholerae, rather than EHEC. Therefore, the primary symptom associated with an EHEC infection is indeed hemorrhagic colitis, making this the correct choice.