Colorado teen battles kidney failure after eating McDonald’s burgers

Is Kamberlyn Bowler Close to Death Due to McDonald’s?

Colorado Student Allegedly Contracts E. coli

What Symptoms Did She Develop?

In Grand Junction, Colorado, a deadly E. coli outbreak has raised significant concerns after affecting dozens of people, including a young high school student.

Kamberlyn Bowler, 15, is one of the victims of the outbreak, tentatively linked to contaminated onions used in hamburgers from the fast-food chain McDonald’s.

The young girl began experiencing severe symptoms after consuming Quarter Pounder hamburgers on at least three occasions between September 27 and October 8, according to The Associated Press.

These meals occurred during school-related activities, where the hamburgers were a quick and accessible option for Kamberlyn and her friends.

KAMBERLYN BOWLER FIGHTS KIDNEY FAILURE AFTER EATING AT MCDONALD’S

Is Kamberlyn Bowler Close to Death Due to McDonald’s? – Photo: AP

Days after eating the hamburgers, Kamberlyn Bowler began to feel extremely unwell.

She soon experienced fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and painful stomach cramps.

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The symptoms escalated quickly, and when she began showing blood in her stool and urine, as well as vomiting with traces of blood, her mother, Brittany Randall, became alarmed and took her to the hospital.

Initially, doctors at a local hospital in Grand Junction suggested that Kamberlyn had a stomach virus and sent her home with instructions to stay hydrated.

What Illness Does Kamberlyn Bowler Have?

However, her health continued to deteriorate, and when she was taken back to the hospital on October 17, tests revealed acute kidney failure.

In a desperate effort to save her kidneys, Kamberlyn was airlifted to a hospital in Denver.

There, she remained in intensive care for ten days, receiving dialysis as part of her treatment.

Kamberlyn is one of at least 75 people affected by this E. coli outbreak, 22 of whom have required hospitalization.

How Many E. coli Cases Have Been Reported?

In Mesa County, where Kamberlyn lives, 11 cases and one death have been reported.

Health officials have indicated that the onions used in the hamburgers from the chain appear to be the source of the outbreak.

This has caused great alarm among consumers and affected families, as noted by AP.

Brittany Randall, Kamberlyn’s mother, is deeply shocked by the severity of the situation.

Will They Take Legal Action Against McDonald’s?

“It’s scary to think that we place so much faith and trust in eating something safe, and that trust gets broken,” she said in an interview.

The young girl’s mother is now considering a lawsuit against McDonald’s, as her daughter contracted a strain of E. coli O157, reported the agency.

This bacteria is known for producing a toxin that can cause severe kidney complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome.

This potentially fatal condition primarily affects children, who often require extended hospitalization and even kidney transplants for recovery, explained Dr. Myda Khalid.

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