THD News reports that health officials today issued an advisory to the public about the risk of eating alfalfa sprouts. A local individual was recently hospitalized with an E. coli infection suspected to have come from eating the sprouts.
E. coli infection often leads to bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and occasionally kidney failure.
Most persons recover without antibiotics or other specific treatment in 5-10 days, however, children under 5 years of age, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for more serious complications.