Description

Shigella infection is a disease that affects the bowel. Another name for this is shigellosis. It is caused by a group of germs called bacteria shigella.

Children under 5 years of age are more prone to getting the infection by shigella. But the disease can occur at any age. Germs are easily transmitted through an infected person's stool. The germs can get into the fingers, on surfaces, in food or water. The infection occurs after the bacteria are ingested.

The main symptoms of shigella infection is diarrhea that may be bloody, or of long duration. Other symptoms may include fever and stomach pain.

More often, shigella infection clears up on its own within a week. The treatment for severe disease may include medications called antibiotics to get rid of the germs.

Help prevent infection by shigella by washing hands often, especially after changing diapers or using the bathroom. And if you swim in ponds, lakes, or swimming pools, try not to swallow the water.

Symptoms

The symptoms of shigella infection usually start a day or two after contact with the germs that cause. Sometimes, the disease will take a week to start.

Symptoms may include:

  • The diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus, and can last more than three days.
  • Stomach pain or cramping.
  • Feel like you need to have a bowel movement, even when the bowel is empty.
  • Fever.
  • Stomach pain or vomiting.

The symptoms tend to last up to seven days. Sometimes last longer. Some people have no symptoms after being infected with the bacteria shigella. But germs can be spread through the fecal matter for a couple of weeks.

When to see a doctor

Call your healthcare provider or seek emergency care if you or your child has:

  • Diarrhea with blood.
  • Diarrhea that causes weight loss and dehydration.
  • Diarrhea, along with a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) or more.
  • Terrible stomach cramps or tenderness.
  • Frequent vomiting that prevents keeping liquids.
  • Symptoms of dehydration such as little or no urine, very dry mouth and throat, or a feeling of dizziness when standing up.

If you have a weakened immune system, call your health care professional if you have any shigella symptoms of the infection. The disease is more likely that you sick for a long time.

Causes

Shigella infection is caused by ingestion of the bacteria shigella. This can occur when:

  • Touch your mouth. This poses a risk because there are many ways of shigella germs to get on your hands. You can change the diaper of a child who has the infection by shigella. Or you might touch an object that has germs on it, as a toy or changing table. Germs can also be spread from hand to mouth during sexual contact with someone who has the infection.
  • Eating contaminated food. A person with a shigella infection who are in charge of the food you can spread it to the people who consume the food. The food can also become a stain, if it grows in a field that contains the waste water.
  • Swallowing contaminated water. The water may be contaminated with the bacteria shigella germs of the wastewater. Also the water can be contaminated if a person with the infection by shigella nothing in it.

Risk factors

The risk factors for shigella infection include the following:

  • To be a child. Children under 5 years of age are more prone to getting the infection by shigella. But people of any age can get the disease.
  • Living in group housing or group activities. The close contact with other people can spread germs from one person to another. Shigella outbreaks are more frequent in child care centers, schools, pools, water parks, and nursing homes.
  • Living or traveling in areas that lack clean drinking water and sewage disposal services. The people who live in or travel to developing countries are more susceptible to infection by shigella.
  • Sexual contact that involves the anus. Shigella germs can spread from stools or soiled fingers of one partner to the mouth of another couple. This puts men who have sex with men at greater risk of infection by shigella.
  • Experiencing homelessness. This may involve staying in crowded areas or have less access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. That can increase the risk of infection when shigella germs are spread through the community.
  • Having a weakened immune system. This increases the risk of more severe infection by shigella. The immune system may be weakened from health conditions such as HIV or treatments such as chemotherapy.

Complications

It can take weeks or months before you return to your typical bowel habits. And most of the times, the infection by shigella disappears without leading to other health conditions so-called complications.

Dehydration

Constant diarrhea can cause dehydration. Symptoms include dizziness, lack of tears in children, the sunken eyes, and dry diapers. Severe dehydration can lead to shock and death.

Seizures

Some children with shigella infections have seizures. The seizures can cause changes in behavior, jerking movements and loss of consciousness. They are more common in children who have a high fever. But it can also occur in children who do not have a high fever.

It is not known if the seizures are the result of fever or infection by shigella in itself. If your child seems to have a seizure, call your healthcare provider immediately.

Prolapse Rectal

This condition occurs when a part of the large intestine from the lowest section will slide out of the anus. It may be more common in children with shigella who do not get enough nutrition.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome

This rare complication of shigella affects the blood and blood vessels. This can lead to kidney failure.

Toxic Megacolon

This rare complication prevents the colon bowel movements and gas. The colon becomes larger as a result. Symptoms include stomach pain and swelling, fever, and weakness. Without treatment, the colon may explode. This causes a life-threatening infection called peritonitis that required emergency surgery.

Reactive arthritis

This condition may occur weeks after the infection by shigella. Symptoms include joint pain and inflammation, usually in the ankles, knees, feet and hips. Other symptoms may include pain when urinating, redness, itching and discharge in one or both eyes.

Bloodstream infection

This is also known as bacteremia. Shigella infection can damage the lining of the intestines. Rarely, shigella germs enter the blood through the damaged walls and cause an infection in the bloodstream. These infections are more common in adults with weakened immune systems and children.

Prevention

Take the following steps to help prevent infection by shigella:

  • Wash your hands often. Use soap and water, and scrub for at least 20 seconds. This is the key before preparing or eating food, and before the sexual activity. It is also important to wash after using the bathroom or changing a diaper.
  • Throw away the dirty diapers in a covered, lined garbage.
  • Disinfect diaper changing areas immediately after use, especially if the diaper leaks or spills.
  • Try not to swallow the water in the ponds, lakes, or untreated pools.
  • Do not have sexual contact with any person who have diarrhea or who recently recovered from diarrhea. Wait at least two weeks.

If you or your child has diarrhea or a known infection by shigella, take these steps to prevent the spread of germs:

  • Keep washing your hands frequently. And see the young children when they wash their hands.
  • Do not prepare food for other people if possible.
  • Stay at home healthcare, food service or child care jobs, while the sick.
  • Keep children with diarrhea home child care, play groups, or at school.
  • Do not go swimming until you have fully recovered.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of shigella infection involves a physical exam and tests to find out if you have the disease. Many other health conditions that can cause diarrhea or diarrhea with blood.

You or your healthcare professional collects a sample of your stool. Then, a lab checks the sample for shigella germs or harmful substances called toxins that germs do.

Treatment

The treatment for shigella infection depends on the severity of the disease. Most often, the disease is mild and gets better in the term of seven days. The only thing that you need to replace the fluids lost by diarrhea, especially if your general health is good.

The drugs that are sold without a prescription

Talk with your healthcare professional before taking any medicine for diarrhea that are sold without a prescription. Many conditions can cause diarrhea, and these medications can make some conditions worse.

If a laboratory test has confirmed that you have the infection by shigella, a medicine that contains bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) can help. This is available without a prescription. It can help to pass stools less often, and shorten the duration of your illness. But is not recommended for children, pregnant women, or lactating people, or those who are allergic to aspirin.

Do not take diarrhea medicine such as loperamide (Imodium a-D). In addition, do not take medicines that contain the combination of diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomotil). These are not recommended for shigella infection. It can reduce the body's ability to remove shigella germs and make your condition worse.

Antibiotics

For a serious shigella infection, your health care professional may recommend medications called antibiotics that help to get rid of germs. Antibiotics may shorten the duration of the disease. But some shigella bacteria to resist the effects of these medications. So that your healthcare professional do not recommend the use of antibiotics unless your shigella infection is very bad.

Antibiotics may also be necessary to treat the infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Antibiotics can also be used if there is a high risk of the spread of the disease.

If you are given antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Finish taking all of the pills, even if you begin to feel better.

Fluid and salt replacement

For the adults in good general health, drinking water can be enough to prevent dehydration caused by diarrhea.

Children can benefit from a treatment called oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte. This is sold in pharmacies and are taken by mouth. Many pharmacies have their own brands.

Children and adults who are very dehydrated need treatment in a hospital emergency room. The treatment consists of salts and fluids through a vein instead of through the mouth. This is called intravenous hydration. Provides the body with water and essential nutrients much more quickly than oral solutions do.

Preparing for your appointment

Many people who have shigella infection get better without drugs. But if you or your child has severe symptoms or a high fever, call your health care professional. You may need treatment.

What you can do

Before you speak with your health care professional, write a list of answers to the following questions:

  • What are the symptoms?
  • When did the symptoms begin?
  • Have you or your child has been exposed to a person who has or has had the infection by shigella?
  • Do you or your child has a fever? If so, what is it?

What to expect from your doctor

During the physical exam, your health care professional can press on the sides of the stomach area. This is done to check if the pain or sensitivity. Your health care professional may also use a cotton swab to get a sample of stool. Or you may be given instructions on how to collect and submit a sample of your stool to a laboratory for analysis.

Symptoms and treatment of Shigella infection