Shigella are common bacteria that cause infection in the digestive tract. Shigellosis is the name of the infection caused by Shigella bacteria. Shigella bacteria produce toxins that attack the lining of the large intestine, causing swelling, ulceration of the intestinal wall, and bloody diarrhea. This is a form of severe food poisoning.
Diarrhea associated with shigellosis is different from regular diarrhea. In people who have shigellosis, the first bowel movement is typically large and watery. Where as later bowel movements may be much smaller, but may contain mucus and blood. The following is a list of symptoms commonly associated with shigellosis:
- loss of appetite
- high fever
- abdominal cramps
- painful bowel movements
- bloody diarrhea
- nausea and vomiting
In severe cases of shigellosis, a person may experience extreme fatigue, a stiff neck, confusion, a headache, and seizures. Shigellosis can also lead to severe dehydration and occasionally, other complications, like skin rashes, arthritis, and kidney failure.
Shigella bacteria can contaminate water and food supplies, especially in areas of poor sanitation. However, the majority of contamination occurs when a person comes in contact with the feces of another person. That is why it is extremely important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after using the restroom. Ingestion of only 10 of these bacteria can cause an infection. This means that Shigella bacteria can be easily spread through schools, day cares, nursing homes, and even families.
Shigellosis occurs most commonly during the summer months and although it can affect anyone, it is most commonly found in children between the ages of 2 and 4. Children in this age range are frequently not yet potty trained and/or they do not wash their hands after using the restroom.
If you believe that you or a member of your family has shigellosis, it is very important to contact your physician. Your physician will likely take a stool sample and potentially a blood sample to clearly identify the infection as shigellosis. At this point, your doctor may or may not choose to treat the shigellosis with antibiotics, it really depends how severe the symptoms are. Make sure to follow any instructions that are provided by your physician.
