Was Eli Manning Sick with E. Coli, not Flu, before NFC Championship?

Was Eli Manning sick with E. Coli, not the flu, before this season's NFC Championship game vs. the San Francisco 49ers?

The New York Giants quarterback may be getting ready to run his team's offense Sunday in the 2012 Super Bowl, but in the days running up to the Giants' 20-17 win in San Francisco on Jan. 23, he likely had E. Coli, according to Dr. Gerald W. Deas of New York.

The medical doctor wrote in a Feb. 1 column in Frost Illustrated, a local Indianapolis-area newspaper, that his professional opinion was that Eli Manning was sick with E. Coli, despite the fact that it was reported that he had the flu.

A few days prior to the battle of the Giants with the San Francisco 49ers, Eli Manning was struck in his gut with a bacteria known as E. coli. It was reported in the press that he had had a bout with the flu, which I doubted, Dr. Dean wrote Feb. 1 in Frost Illustrated. It was further reported that he missed practice for the big game due to running back and forth to relieve himself, which could have been diarrhea.

Dr. Dean goes on to say that as he examined press photographs and videos of Eli Manning in the days leading up to the NFC Championship it was obvious that he was washed out and looked totally dehydrated, which diarrhea can cause.

Whatever he was sick with, Eli Manning still threw 316 yards for two touchdowns to beat the 49ers in overtime. He faces Tom Brady in the 2012 Super Bowl on Sunday.

A bacteria found in human intestines, E. Coli can cause infections of the kidney, diarrhea leading to muscle weakness and other major symptoms, including death in extreme cases.

E. Coli bacteria is not airborne but is instead generally spread through contaminated or undercooked food, especially meat.

Personally, I think all superstars, whether they be man or animals should be carefully monitored for drugs, diet and drinking habits before championship games or races, Dr. Dean wrote. Millions of dollars are being bet on the outcome of a particular event and something like a simple bacteria such as E. coli can change the outcome of a sporting event and its participants.

Dr. Dean suggested a number of steps to take to ensure you wash your hands properly in order to stop E. Coli and other germs from spreading:

• Wet hands with warm running water prior to reaching for soap, either in bar or liquid form.
• Rub hands together to make a lather. Do this away from running water, so the lather isn't washed away.
• Wash the front and back of hands, between fingers and under nails. Continue washing for 15 seconds or more.
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer.