Table 1.

Clinical characteristics of patients

	NC (23)	Rotavirus GE (10)	Non-O157 HC (15)	O157:H7 HC (27)	O157:H7 HUS (15)	CRF (6)
Sex (M/F)	14/9	3/7	5/10	12/15	6/9	3/3
Age* (months)	57.0 ± 39.0	21.0 ± 14.0¶	59.0 ± 44.0	68.0 ± 47.0	30.0 ± 15.0§	125.0 ± 51.0†
WBC** (×109/l)	ND	10·6 ± 4·0	8·9 ± 2·7	15·2 ± 8·5	19·6 ± 8·4‡§§††	ND
Δ Time** (days)	–	2·9 ± 1·3	3·6 ± 2·7	5·3 ± 2·8	8·0 ± 9·4‡‡	–

GE, gastroenteritis; HC, haemorrhagic colitis; HUS, haemolytic uraemic syndrome; CRF, chronic renal failure; M/F, male/female; WBC, white blood cell count on admission; Δ Time, refers to the time interval between the day of blood sample collection and the onset of enteric symptoms; ND, not done.

^*P < 0·0001

^**P < 0·0007, *** P < 0·001; comparison of the six groups together.

^¶P < 0·002, viral gastroenteritis versus O157:H7 HC;

^§P < 0·003, HUS versus O157:H7 HC;

^†P < 0·0003, CRF compared to any other group;

^‡P < 0·003, HUS versus viral gastroenteritis;

^§§P < 0·0002, HUS versus non-O157 HC;

^††P < 0·06, HUS versus O157:H7 HC;

^‡‡P < 0·001, HUS versus any other group.