Diagnosis And Treatment Of HUS In Rochester, New York

Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Rochester, New York

If You, or a Loved One, Were Diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome After Eating Contaminated Food at a Rochester, New York, Restaurant, The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Secure the Compensation You Deserve.

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Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome is an uncommon but serious medical condition that can have a long-lasting and life-altering impact. Often caused by E. coli-contaminated food or water, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome destroys blood platelets, reduces red blood cell counts, and impairs the kidneys’ ability to filter waste. People of any age can contract Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome if they are exposed to E. coli-containing produce. However, children under the age of 10, elderly adults, and persons with immune system disorders have an increased risk of developing this disease.

Since Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome has no cure, most medical interventions are intended to mitigate patients’ symptoms, which can last anywhere between several days and several months. While Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome usually resolves without any significant complications, some people suffer irreversible damage to the kidneys and other major organs. Unfortunately, the costs of even a short hospital stay—let alone long-term care--could jeopardize families’ finances.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes that nobody should have to pay the price for a business’s poor safety practices. If you, or a loved one, have developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome after eating contaminated food at a Rochester area restaurant, you could be entitled to significant compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Since establishing the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. in 2005, Jed Dietrich, Esq., has helped his clients secure more than $175 million in damages—money they have used to clear their medical debt, obtain high-quality health care, and reclaim their illness after suffering from a devastating disease. We could help you, too. Please send the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. a message online or call us at (585) 939-3939 to schedule your free, no-cost consultation today.

How Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome is Diagnosed

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome patients may suffer from a wide range of symptoms, including:

1. Vomiting;
2. Diarrhea;
3. Bloody stools;
4. Stomach pain;
5. Fever;
6. Chills; and
7. Headaches.

Since Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome symptoms could be caused by other conditions, physicians will typically only confirm a diagnosis after performing a physical examination and conducting laboratory tests, including:

1. Blood Tests: Doctors use blood tests to determine if red blood cells are damaged since Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome affects the bloodstream, damages blood vessels, and clogs blood pathways throughout the body.
2. Urine Tests: A urine test could help detect abnormal levels of protein, blood, and other signs of an E. coli-related infection.
3. Stool Samples: Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome is associated with a particular strain of E. coli called Shinga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC. When physicians suspect that a patient might have Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, they will usually first test the patient’s stool for the presence of E. coli using a rapid and highly accurate diagnostic tool called a PCR assay.

If your doctor believes that you have Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, they may ask you about your recent meals to ascertain whether you were exposed to foodborne E. coli. However, if your physician does not know how you developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, they could conduct other tests to check whether you might have inherited a rare form of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome called Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. While Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome has several potential causes, including genetic mutations, most cases occur after exposure to the Shinga toxin-producing E. coli bacterium O157:H7. This type of E. coli can be found in undercooked meats, unpasteurized milk, and raw produce. Restaurants and other food vendors can typically reduce—if not eliminate—the risk of E. coli exposure by following common-sense safety protocols.

However, not every restaurant takes its moral and legal obligations to protect customers’ safety seriously. When businesses fail to train their workers, implement proper food handling procedures, or ensure the quality of their food products, they endanger their patrons, exposing them to potentially life-threatening foodborne illnesses such as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s team of highly experienced attorneys is committed to providing our Rochester clients with the highest level of personal injury service. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades fighting for the rights of New Yorkers injured by negligent business practices. If you, or a family member, have been diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome that you suspect could have been caused by unsafe food, we could help you construct a compelling, evidence-based case for recompense. Please call us at (585) 939-3939 today to schedule a consultation and discuss your options for legal relief.

Common Treatments for Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

While Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome is a rare disease, it is nonetheless a very serious condition. Since Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome can impair kidney function and cause renal failure, patients may need fluid and electrolyte replacement treatment. However, some cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome condition require more intensive interventions, including:

1. Transfusions: Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome may need to receive intravenous transfusions of red blood cells or platelets, which can help reverse the signs and symptoms of anemia and facilitate easier blood clotting.
2. Medications: Medication cannot cure or halt the progression of E.coli-associated Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, but it can lower blood pressure for patients who have sustained lasting kidney damage from the condition. Conversely, some experimental drugs have shown promise in treating Atypical Uremic Syndrome.
3. Dialysis: Kidney experts estimate that 50% of all Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome patients require short-term kidney replacement treatment in the form of dialysis. Most patients who receive dialysis eventually recover their full kidney function.
4. Plasma Exchange: Plasma exchange is a procedure used to separate plasma, the amber-colored liquid component of blood, from the blood cells. A machine may be used to clear the blood of its own plasma. Alternatively, the plasma may be replaced with fresh or donated plasma. Plasma exchange has shown some promise in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with severe Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome-related renal deficiencies.
5. Surgery: Some people who suffer severe kidney damage from Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome may require a kidney transplant.

The prognosis for most Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome patients is positive, with experts estimating that 85% of persons diagnosed with the condition will eventually recover full kidney function. However, some people may suffer chronic complications, such as high blood pressure. A minority of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome cases could result in irreversible damage to other organs, such as the brain and pancreas.

In spite of generally positive patient outcomes, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome can wreak havoc on sufferers’ lives and finances. If you believe that your Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome could have been caused by contaminated food at a Rochester or Monroe County restaurant, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you investigate and hold the wrongdoer accountable for their misconduct. However, you have to act fast: while New York law allows food poisoning victims to obtain compensation for their injuries, the state has a strict statute of limitations. If you wait too long to act, the court could automatically dismiss your complaint. Do not lose your chance to ascertain justice: call Jed Dietrich, Esq., at (585) 939-3939 to schedule your no-cost consultation.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (585) 939-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Rochester, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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