Symptoms
The possible symptoms of shigellosis include:
- Watery or bloody, mucopurulent diarrhea.
- Inflammatory colitis (colitis).
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Abdominal pain, cramps
- Painful urge to defecate
- Nausea, vomiting
The disease often occurs in children and usually lasts about a week. The severity varies and depends on the pathogen. Rarely, severe complications such as colonic perforation and hemolytic uremic syndrome may occur.
Causes
The cause of diarrheal disease is infection with gram-negative bacteria of the genus Enterobacteriaceae. The bacteria are excreted in the stool and transmitted by the fecal-oral route, such as through the hands, contaminated surfaces or objects, food, and water. Flies can also transmit the bacteria. The incubation period is short, lasting about 1 to 2 days. Shigella can form endotoxins and exotoxins. However, the dangerous Shiga toxin 1 is produced only by Shigella dysenteriae type 1.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical symptoms, patient history, physical examination, and laboratory methods (stool examination).
Nonpharmacologic treatment
- Adequate fluid and electrolyte intake, electrolyte replacement solutions.
- Hygiene measures
- Warm compresses, e.g. a hot water bottle
Drug treatment
Shigellosis can be treated causally with antibiotics. Peristaltic inhibitors such as loperamide (Imodium, generic) are not recommended, but other antidiarrheal agents such as tannins, probiotics, and activated charcoal can be used.
