How to protect your child from E. coli in lake water

A summer day at the lake turned into a medical nightmare for the Faircloth family after their 2-year-old daughter, Elisabeth, contracted a rare and serious illness linked to E. coli exposure.

Elisabeth Faircloth has been hospitalized since June 6 after doctors say she was infected with a shiga-toxin producing strain of E. coli. Her condition has since developed into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication that affects the kidneys.

Related: Toddler contracts severe E. coli infection after family lake trip

“She’s still in the hospital fighting complications from the illness,” the family shared. Elisabeth was recently transferred from St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa to OU Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, where she remains under intensive care. Her parents say they do not expect to bring her home anytime soon.

Dr. Kyle Schauf, a family medicine physician at Utica Park Clinic in Catoosa, says while serious complications like HUS are rare, they are dangerous.

“The hemolytic uremic syndrome—the severe illness from E. coli—is still pretty rare, but it is definitely very concerning if you do get it,” Schauf said.

According to Dr. Schauf, E. coli symptoms can resemble a common stomach virus, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and loss of appetite.

“You can feel like you’ve come down with the stomach flu when really it’s the E. coli that’s caused you to have the gastroenteritis,” he explained.

He urges parents to seek medical attention if a child shows signs of dehydration, is unable to keep clear liquids down, or stops urinating—symptoms that could indicate a more severe condition.

Heavy rainfall can make lake water more dangerous, Schauf noted, as it disturbs the sediment where E. coli bacteria may lie dormant.

“When you have heavy rainfall like we’ve had many times over this spring, you’re going to churn up that water, and any E. coli that’s living dormant in that sediment down at the bottom is going to get churned up to the surface,” he said.

Even when public advisories aren’t issued, the risk of E. coli exposure can still be present. Dr. Schauf advises swimmers to avoid stagnant water, closed beaches, and flooded areas. He also recommends not swallowing lake water or getting it in your nose.

You can check Oklahoma lake levels here.