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Grade III C
2017
Dysentery: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
Last updated Fri 23 June 2017
By Christian Nordqvist
Reviewed by Alana Biggers, MD, MPH
Infection with the Shigella bacillus, or bacterium, is the most common cause.
In the United States (U.S.), signs and symptoms are normally mild and usually
disappear within a few days. Most people will not seek medical attention.
If a person seeks medical help for dysentery in the U.S., however, the authorities
must be informed. It is a notifiable disease.
Each year worldwide, there are between 120 million and 165 million cases
of Shigella infection, of which 1 million are fatal. Over 60 percent of these fatalities
are children under 5 years old in developing countries.
Poor hygiene is the main source. Shigellosis can also spread because of
tainted food.
In Western Europe and the U.S., it is the most common type of dysentery in
people who have not visited the tropics shortly before infection.
The amoebae group together to form a cyst, and these cysts emerge from the
body in human feces.
In areas of poor sanitation, the amoebae can contaminate food and water and
infect other humans, as they can survive for long periods outside the body.
They can also linger on people's hands after using the bathroom. Good
hygiene practice reduces the risk of spreading infection.
Other causes
a slight stomach-ache
cramping
diarrhea
These usually appear from 1 to 3 days after infection, and the patient recovers
within a week.
Some people also develop lactose intolerance, which can last for a long time,
sometimes years.
abdominal pain
fever and chills
nausea and vomiting
watery diarrhea, which can contain blood, mucus, or pus
the painful passing of stools
fatigue
intermittent constipation
If amoeba tunnel through the intestinal wall, they can spread into the
bloodstream and infect other organs.
The amoebae may continue living within the human host after symptoms have
gone. Then, symptoms may recur when the person's immune system is
weaker.
D. Diagnosis
The doctor will ask the patient about their signs and symptoms and carry out a
physical examination.
A stool sample may be requested, especially if the patient has recently returned
from the tropics.
E. Treatment
However, any patient with diarrhea or vomiting should drink plenty of fluids to
prevent dehydration.
If they are unable to drink, or if diarrhea and vomiting are profuse, intravenous
(IV) fluid replacement may be necessary. The patient will be placed on a drip and
monitored.
Mild bacillary dysentery, the kind commonly found in developed countries with
good sanitation, will normally resolve without treatment.
If lab results are unclear, the patient may be given a combination of antibiotic
and amoebicidal medications, depending on how severe their symptoms are.
F. Complications
Complications of dysentery are few, but they can be severe.
G. Prevention
Dysentery mostly stems from poor hygiene.
To reduce the risk of infection, people should wash their hands regularly with
soap and water, especially before and after using the bathroom and preparing
food.
This can reduce the frequency of Shigella infections and other types of diarrhea
by up to 35 percent.
Other steps to take when the risk is higher, for example, when traveling, include:
Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171193.php