Shigella Flexneri Symptoms

There are several types of shigella bacteria that cause shigellosis: shigella sonnei, shigella flexneri and shigella dysenteriae. Poor sanitation, contaminated food and water cause outbreaks of shigellosis. Shigella spreads rapidly in crowded places, such as daycare centers. Shigella sonnei and shigella flexneri cause the most cases of shigellosis in the U.S. These two strains cause the same symptoms and can be identified only through stool-culture tests.

Primary Symptoms

• The first symptom of shigellosis is diarrhea. The first bowel movement is usually large and watery. Later bowel movements might become smaller and contain blood and mucus. It might be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In rare cases, an infected person might not have any symptoms but still is contagious.

Other Symptoms

• Among other symptoms of shigellosis are high fever, loss of appetite and abdominal cramps. Severe cases might include seizures, a stiff neck, a headache and confusion. In some cases, shigella flexneri causes Reiter's syndrome, also called retroactive arthritis. This strain of shigella bacteria also is responsible for such symptoms as painful joints, eye irritation and painful urination, which occur in about two percent of cases. Dehydration due to diarrhea and vomiting is a concern. It can lead to other severe complications, such as kidney failure. Children might need to be hospitalized if fever reaches more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

Time Frame

• Infected people usually develop symptoms within one to three days. It is most common for the first symptoms to surface on the second day. Shigellosis lasts up to seven days. Antibiotics can shorten the length of a shigella infection and the severity of the symptoms.