Headlines - Post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome in 2013

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), also known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), is responsible for a variety of clinical manifestations: simple or bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, which may be complicated by HUS. HUS surveillance, established in 1996, relies on a stable network of pediatric nephrology departments in 31 hospitals across mainland France. In addition to this network, other departments occasionally report cases of HUS treated in their units. A case is defined as a child under 15 years of age for whom a clinical diagnosis of HUS has been made based on the following laboratory criteria: microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (hemoglobin < 10 g/100 mL or schizocytosis ≥ 2%) associated with acute renal failure (serum creatinine > 60 μmol/L if age < 2 years or > 70 μmol/L if age ≥ 2 years).