On the 16th, the number of children and teachers who showed symptoms of group food poisoning at a kindergarten in Ansan, Gyeonggi, increased to 100.

The Sangnok-gu Public Health Center in Ansan-si said that of the 184 kindergarten students, 100 were children and teachers who had symptoms of food poisoning such as diarrhea.

Of these, 19 children and three of their families were hospitalized, 22 were hospitalized, and 9 were discharged after treatment.

Some children have been diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) so-called'Hamburger' disease, and some children are reportedly on dialysis due to poor kidney function.

Health authorities have identified intestinal hemorrhagic E. coli, which causes food poisoning as a pathogenic E. coli in more than 30 native specimens.

In this kindergarten, since the 12th, original students complained of symptoms such as abdominal pain, but the exact cause has not been determined. 

Health authorities are conducting epidemiological investigations to confirm the cause of infection after conducting and closing kindergartens. 

● What are the symptoms and causes of'hamburger disease'?

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is one of the complications of intestinal hemorrhagic E. coli infection. It usually develops when eating undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy products, or contaminated vegetables. 

In 1982, in the United States, dozens of children who ate hamburgers with undercooked patties began to be called'hamburger disease' when they were infected with HUS.

In general, hemorrhagic E. coli infection improves without sequelae for about 1 to 2 weeks, but some patients, such as children and the elderly, may progress to HUS.

Hamburger's disease is characterized by severe spastic abdominal pain, vomiting, and mild fever. In addition, the body may swell, blood pressure may increase, and nervous system symptoms such as convulsions and coma may occur.

About half of the hamburger disease patients may have kidney problems that require dialysis treatment.  

(Composition: Shin Jeong-eun, Editor: Seungyeon Park)