Dysentery Treatment

Dysentery is cause by an infection in the intestine. There are two types of infections. One is caused by bacteria and the other is caused by amoebas or protozoa (single-cell organisms). This infection results in severe diarrhea, which can cause discomfort to the patient and complications like dehydration and even death.

Dysentery Treatment for Bacillary Dysentery

• When dysentery is caused by bacteria, it is spread from person to person through contact or contaminated consumables. When you are in an area with poor sanitary conditions, your susceptibility is higher. You will begin to notice symptoms one to six days after you are infected. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, blood in the feces and fever.
  Sometimes, if left to run its course, this condition will dissipate on its own. Doctors also treat this type of dysentery successfully with the use of antibiotics, usually for 10 days. There is recent reluctance to immediately start antibiotic treatment because the bacteria are rapidly developing resistance to the drugs. The most common antibiotics prescribed are Ciprofloxacin and Loperamide.
  When treating a patient with bacillary dysentery, dehydration of the patient is a risk but can be prevented with replacement of fluids. Sports drinks are great for this because they contain electrolytes, essential salts the body needs to remain properly hydrated. If sports drinks are not available, mix a sugar packet and/or a pinch of salt with a glass of water. If you are traveling abroad, a local doctor will be very familiar with the condition and may prescribe an herbal treatment. The patient should recover within a week to 10 days.

Dysentery Treatment for Amoebic Dysentery

• This type of dysentery, as previously mentioned, is caused by amoebas and protozoa. They are living creatures and therefore are parasites. Once inside your body they cause ulceration--damage in the intestines--and can also spread to the liver, testicles, lungs and your brain. The spread of this type of dysentery is through consumption of contaminated food, water or feces. The symptoms may develop days after the infection but sometimes symptoms can take years to manifest themselves. You may notice that you have indigestion, weight loss, anemia and diarrhea.
  A doctor will often prescribe metronidazole or tinadazole for a prolonged period of time. According to an article by Kai Tullin, GP, on netdoctor.com, travelers who have these drugs in their first aid kit can treat themselves by taking 2, 400 mg tablets, three times a day for five days." Some parasites are drug-resistant and difficult to treat. If this happens to you, alternative treatments, such as those found in Chinese medicine, can be helpful.