Dysentery Disease

Dysentery is a bacterial disease in which strains of the bacterium shigella cause an infection in the gut. It is spread through contaminated food and water, and may also be spread from person-to-person contact as well as in the form of human feces.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of dysentery generally appear within a few days of infection, and include digestive problems such as abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and severe diarrhea that may be accompanied by blood. If symptoms become severe and untreated, critical levels of dehydration can cause death.

Risks

• There is a risk of dysentery in every part of the world. Areas that are most at risk are those that exist under conditions of especially poor sanitation, and include crowded areas where sanitation is made more difficult, such as schools or shelters.

Treatment

• To fight the infection, rest and fluid consumption is generally sufficient until symptoms disappear completely. Under extreme cases, hospitalization and/or antibiotics may be used. Because dysentery is extremely contagious, infected individuals should not re-enter the community for at least two days after symptoms have completely cleared.

Prevention

• Because the disease thrives in areas of poor sanitation, the best preventative measures is cleanliness; wash hands before preparing food and after using the toilet. If you know you are in an area where cases have been reported, avoid sharing hygienic products such as towels and toothbrushes.

Historical Note

• Dysentery was a common problem during World War I, when soldiers lived in poor sanitary conditions and latrines were not properly isolated from water and food sources. Due to high levels of contamination and the inability to treat severe dehydration, a number of fatal cases were reported.