Shigellosis is an 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 more easily spread than many other intestinal bacteria.
The illness can be severe for children and older adults. It can cause dehydration (loss of body fluids), imbalance of chemicals in the body, and shock.
The disease is caused by Shigella bacteria. It is spread through the bowel movements of people who carry the bacteria in their gut. People carrying the bacteria may or may not have symptoms.
You can get the disease by eating or drinking from anything contaminated with the bacteria. You can also get it by touching something contaminated, such as a plate, and then touching your mouth. Flies can also spread the disease.
Attacks of shigellosis are sudden and severe. The symptoms start about 12 hours to 3 days after you are exposed to the bacteria.
Symptoms include:
Your healthcare provider will review your symptoms and examine you. A sample of bowel movement may be sent to the lab for testing.
Your provider may prescribe an antibiotic. Mild infections may get better without antibiotics, but your provider may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent spread to others, especially if you spend time around children or older adults.
If you are taking an antibiotic, be sure to take all of it. Otherwise, the infection may come back and be harder to treat.
If you are generally in good health, you will feel better within a week. Taking antibiotics may shorten the illness to a few days.
Normally the infection stays in the gut. However, in the most serious cases, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord get irritated. This can cause coma and seizures, and you will need to stay at the hospital for treatment. Another possible complication of shigellosis is a type of kidney failure with problems clotting the blood (hemolytic uremic syndrome).
Follow your healthcare provider's instructions.
If you have diarrhea, you may want to let your bowel rest for a few hours by not eating any food. Large amounts of watery diarrhea can cause dehydration, so it’s important to replace the fluids you are losing. Do this by drinking clear liquids, such as water, weak tea, bouillon, apple juice, or sports drinks or other oral rehydrating solutions. You may also drink soft drinks without caffeine (such as 7 UP). Let sodas lose some of their carbonation (go flat) before you drink them. Make sure you drink small amounts often. Not getting enough fluids to replace the fluids your body is losing while you are sick can be very dangerous. This is especially true for children, older adults, and some people who have other medical problems. Suck on ice chips or Popsicles if you feel too nauseated to drink fluids.
It’s OK to keep eating as long as it does not seem to make diarrhea or stomach cramps get worse. Foods that are easiest to digest are soft, plain foods, such as bananas, cooked cereal, rice, plain noodles, gelatin, soft-boiled eggs, toast or bread with jelly, and applesauce. Go back to your normal diet after 2 or 3 days, but avoid milk products and caffeine for a few more days. For several days also avoid fresh fruit (other than bananas), alcohol, greasy or fatty foods, highly seasoned or spicy foods, and most fresh vegetables. Cooked carrots, potatoes, and squash are OK. If eating seems to make the diarrhea worse, go back to just clear liquids for a few hours. Then again try small amounts of the foods that are easy to digest.
If you have cramps or stomach pain, it may help to put a hot water bottle or electric heating pad on your stomach. Cover the hot water bottle with a towel or set the heating pad on low so you don’t burn your skin.
Be cautious about taking antidiarrheal medicines. Nonprescription medicines such as loperamide (sold as Imodium and other trade names) or the prescription medicine Lomotil can make you sicker, especially if the diarrhea is bloody. If you take one of these medicines, make sure you use only the dose recommended on the package. If you have chronic health problems, always check with your healthcare provider before you use any medicine for diarrhea.
Until your recovery is complete, avoid contact with others. Rest in bed or limit your activities until fever and weakness are gone.
Contact your healthcare provider right away or get emergency care, if:
Tell your healthcare provider if:
To help prevent the spread of this disease when you are infected:
