Shigella Infection (Shigellosis): Overview of symptoms, causes and treatment

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Shigella Infection (Shigellosis)
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Shigella Infection (Shigellosis)

• Shigella infection, often called shigellosis, is
  an infection of the digestive tractwhich can
  cause bloody diarrhoea, first sign of shigella.
  The infection can be passed through direct
  contact with the bacteria in the stool. Shigella
  bacteria also can be passed in contaminated food
  or by drinking or swimming in contaminated
  water. Shigellosis is commonly seen during the
  summer months and affects 2-4 year old children.
  The infection is rarely seen in infants younger
  than 6 months old.

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Causes of Shigella infection

• Shigellosis is highly communicable. Someone may
  become infected by coming into in contact with
  something contaminated by stool from an infected
  person. This includes toys, surfaces in
  restrooms, and even food prepared by someone who
  is infected. For example, children who touch a
  contaminated surface such as a toilet or toy and
  then put their fingers in their mouths can become
  infected. Shigella infection can even be carried
  and spread by flies that have touched
  contaminated stool. Normally, it doesnt take
  many Shigella bacteria to cause an infection. The
  bacteria easily spread in water supplies in areas
  with poor sanitation. Moreover, one can get
  shigella infection by swallowing contaminated
  water from sewage or from a person with shigella
  infection swimming in it.

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Symptoms

• The bacteria Shigella make toxins that can
  attack the lining of the large intestine,
  causing swelling, ulcers on the intestinal wall,
  and bloody diarrhoea. The extremity of diarrhoea
  differentiates shigellosis from regular
  diarrhoea. Usually, the first bowel movement is
  often large and watery in children. Over time,
  the bowel movement may be smaller followed by
  blood and mucus. Other symptoms of shigellosis
  include
• Abdominal cramps
• High fever 
• Loss of appetite 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Painful bowel movements

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Treatments

• In order to diagnose shigella infection, your
  doctor may suggest a stool test, accompanied
  by blood tests and other tests to rule out other
  possible causes of the symptoms. Some cases of
  shigellosis require no treatment, but in other
  cases antibioticsmay be prescribed by your doctor
  to shorten the illness and to prevent the spread
  of bacteria to others. As parents, you must not
  give your child non-prescribed medicines for
  vomiting or diarrhoea without the doctors nod.

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When to visit a doctor

• Visit the doctor if your child has signs of a
  shigella infection including diarrhoea with blood
  or mucus, along with abdominal pain, nausea and
  vomiting, or high fever. Children with diarrhoea
  can quickly become dehydrated, which can lead to
  various complications including
• Thirst 
• Irritability 
• Restlessness 
• Lethargy 
• Dry mouth, tongue, and lips 
• Sunken eyes
• A dry diaper for several hours in infants or
  fewer trips to the bathroom to urinate in older
  children

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