A number of neurological changes ("neuro-STEC") can occur in patients with Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). These may overshadow or occur in conjunction with other organ failures in patients with severe disease.
The onset of neurologic findings was about 5 days after the onset of diarrhea.
Neurological findings associated with neuro-STEC:
(1) short-term memory dysfunction (inability to recall one or more words after 1 minute)
(2) disorientation (to person, time, place)
(3) myoclonus
(4) epileptic seizures
(5) psychiatric symptoms (hallucinations, anxiety, panic attacks)
(6) focal neurological signs and symptoms (apraxia, aphasia, hemiparesis, visual loss, sensory deficits)
The neurologic findings may occur with or without other organ failures:
(1) renal
(2) respiratory
MRI of the brain may show reversible changes including reversible hyperintensities in the region of abducens nucleus and lateral thalamus.
