Shigellosis (Bacillary Dysentery / Shigella Infection): Frequently Asked Questions
What is shigellosis?
Shigellosis is a bacterial infection affecting the intestinal tract. Most cases are seen in the summer and early fall and occur as single cases or outbreaks.
Source: www.dphhs.mt.gov
Shigellosis is a bacterial infection of the stomach and intestine. Another name for shigellosis is bacillary dysentery. Shigellosis can be a problem where sanitation is poor and large groups of people are crowded together. It is becoming more common in day care centers and nursing homes. In children and older adults, the illness can be severe and can be accompanied by dehydration (loss of body fluids), imbalance of chemicals in the body, and by shock.
Source: www.fairview.org
Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Most who are infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after they are exposed to the bacterium. The diarrhea is often bloody. Shigellosis usually resolves in 5 to 7 days. In some persons, especially young children and the elderly, the diarrhea can be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. ...
Source: www.daycare.com
There are some types of germs that you definitely don’t want to find in your next meal or glass of water. Add Shigell a bacteria to the list. These highly contagious germs cause shigellosis, an illness marked by severe bouts of diarrhea. Shigellosis is a major threat -- especially in the developing world. According to the World Health Organization, the disease strikes about 163 million people in poor countries worldwide each year. Another 1.5 million people in industrialized countries develop the illness annually. ...
Source: www.ahealthyme.com
Shigellosis (pronounced: shih-guh- lo -sus) is an intestinal infection caused by Shigella (pronounced: shih- geh -luh) bacteria. The bacteria produce toxins that can attack the lining of the large intestine, causing swelling, ulcers on the intestinal wall, and bloody diarrhea. Symptoms can range from just watery diarrhea to bloody diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Shigella bacteria can contaminate food and water supplies, especially in areas where the sanitation is not adequate. ...
Source: www.teenhealth.org
How is shigellosis spread?
By hand-to-mouth contact with stool (feces) from a sick person or animal, eating contaminated foods, or drinking contaminated water. You are more likely to get shigellosis if you: are a child in day care work in a day-care facility or with diapered children have contact with stool through sexual practices or caring for someone with shigellosis travel to a country where the food/water supply may be unsafe
Source: www.dshs.state.tx.us
What are the symptoms of shigellosis?
Shigella doesn’t always cause a serious illness, and some people don’t notice any symptoms at all. The less fortunate may start suffering diarrhea one to three days after picking up the germ. The diarrhea can range from mild to severe and may be watery or bloody. Other possible symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Children under 2 may develop high fevers that can cause seizures. The illness generally lasts four to seven days.
Source: www.ahealthyme.com
How is shigellosis diagnosed?
Since many different germs can cause diarrhea, doctors won’t be able to diagnose shigellosis without running a test. The doctor will send a stool sample to a laboratory that can look for the germs. Accurate diagnosis is important to help doctors choose the right treatment. Cases of shigellosis should be reported to public health officials; usually the laboratory conducting the tests will take care of this.
Source: www.ahealthyme.com
Who gets shigellosis?
Anyone can get shigellosis but it is recognized more often in young children. Those who may be at greater risk include children in day care centers, foreign travelers to certain countries, institutionalized people and active homosexuals
Source: www.dphhs.mt.gov
How is shigellosis treated?
Most people with shigellosis will recover on their own. Some may require fluids to prevent dehydration. Antibiotics are occasionally used to treat severe cases or to shorten the carrier phase which may be important for food handlers, children in day care or institutionalized individuals.
Source: www.dphhs.mt.gov
Where is shigellosis most common?
Most cases of shigellosis occur in poor, overcrowded countries that lack basic sanitation. War, natural disasters, and other disruptions can cause upsurges in the disease. In industrialized countries, the disease is especially common in daycare centers and other places where lots of young children mingle.
Source: www.ahealthyme.com
How Is Shigellosis Diagnosed and Treated?
If you have severe diarrhea, especially if you are bleeding from your anus or have blood in your bowel movements, ask your parent to call your doctor right away. The doctor may take a sample of your stool to see if it contains Shigella bacteria. Blood tests and other tests may also be needed to look for other possible causes of the symptoms, especially if you have a large amount of blood in your stool. ...
Source: www.teenhealth.org
What is the treatment for shigellosis?
Antibiotics that kill the Shigella bacteria -- such as ampicillin or (for adults) ciprofloxacin -- are the best treatment for shigellosis, and can help shorten the illness by a couple of days. However, people with mild cases will likely recover pretty quickly without any treatment. In severe cases, prompt treatment can save lives. Unfortunately, some strains of Shigella have developed resistance to common antibiotics, so when there are many cases in a community, doctors may treat only the severe cases with antibiotics. ...
Source: www.ahealthyme.com
What are the symptoms of Amebic Dysentery, Salmonella and Shigellosis?
Some people experience no symptoms at all; others experience conditions which may be dismissed as the flu. Common symptoms include upset stomach, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and excessive gas. These symptoms are a result of the body attempting to rid the body of the parasites which are present. Advanced stages of these conditions may result in fever and chills.
Source: groups.msn.com
What are Amebic Dysentery, Salmonella and Shigellosis?
Amebic dysentery, salmonella and shigellosis are diseases which have traditionally been associated with poor hygiene but can also be a problem for those engaging in anal sex. The bugs or pathogens contained in salmonella and shigellosis are bacteria; in amebic dysentery they are parasites. The infections caused by these diseases will eventually develop into parasitic infection of the bowel and cause serious intestinal damage.
Source: groups.msn.com
What can be done to prevent the spread of shigellosis?
Since germs are passed in feces, the single most important prevention activity is careful hand washing after using the toilet. 3/98 Top
Source: www.dphhs.mt.gov
How common is shigellosis?
Every year, about 18,000 cases of shigellosis are reported in the United States. Because many milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, the actual number of infections may be twenty times greater. Shigellosis is particularly common and causes recurrent problems in settings where hygiene is poor and can sometimes sweep through entire communities. Shigellosis is more common in summer than winter. Children, especially toddlers aged 2 to 4, are the most likely to get shigellosis. ...
Source: www.daycare.com
What is the government doing about shigellosis?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors the frequency of Shigella infections in the country, and assists local and State health departments to investigate outbreaks, determine means of transmission and devise control measures. CDC also conducts research to better understand how to identify and treat shigellosis. The Food and Drug Administration inspects imported foods, and promotes better food preparation techniques in restaurants and food processing plants. ...
Source: www.daycare.com
How do people catch shigellosis?
Person-to-person contact -- unknowingly putting something into your mouth that has been contaminated with feces from someone who already has shigellosis -- is the usual method of transmission. Once Shigella reaches a person’s digestive system, it takes the quick way out. The feces of an infected person will be loaded with germs for up to a couple of weeks, creating all sorts of opportunities for new infections. ...
Source: www.ahealthyme.com
When and for how long is a person able to spread shigellosis?
Most people pass shigella in their feces (stool) for one to two weeks. Certain antibiotics may shorten the carrier phase.
Source: www.dphhs.mt.gov
How can I help prevent the spread of shigellosis?
To help prevent the spread of this disease when you are infected: Wash your hands with soap and very warm water after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food Do not prepare food for others. Wash and store your linens and towels separately from those used by others. Wash and store your drinking glasses, plates, and utensils separately from those used by others.
Source: www.fairview.org
What else can be done to prevent shigellosis?
It is important for the public health department to know about cases of shigellosis. It is important for clinical laboratories to send isolates of Shigella to the City, County or State Public Health Laboratory so the specific type can be determined and compared to other Shigella. If many cases occur at the same time, it may mean that a restaurant, food or water supply has a problem which needs correction by the public health department. ...
Source: www.daycare.com
Can I Prevent Shigellosis?
There is no vaccine or surefire way to prevent shigellosis. The most important thing you can do to prevent shigellosis is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after you use the bathroom and before you eat or prepare food. Remind everyone else in your family to do the same. If you're caring for anyone who has shigellosis (like changing the diaper of a younger sibling or even a child you're babysitting), be sure to wash your hands carefully before touching anyone else or handling food. ...
Source: www.teenhealth.org
Everyone gets diarrhea once in a while. So how can you tell if what you have is shigellosis or something else?
The severity of the diarrhea sets shigellosis apart from regular diarrhea. When someone has shigellosis, the first bowel movement is often large and watery. Later bowel movements may be smaller, but the diarrhea may have blood and mucus in it. Other symptoms of shigellosis include: abdominal cramps high fever loss of appetite nausea and vomiting painful bowel movements In very severe cases of shigellosis, a person may have convulsions (seizures), a stiff neck, a headache, extreme tiredness, and confusion. ...
Source: www.teenhealth.org
