Shigellosis Symptoms, Signs, and Causes
Have you ever wondered what the signs and symptoms of Shigellosis are? If so, you've come to the correct spot. But before we begin, I'd like to offer you a helpful hint: your eyes can be extremely valuable when identifying a symptom of an illness — if you know what to look for. Well, it's much the same with determining the signs and symptoms of Shigellosis. In this review, we're about to look at everything there is to know about Shigellosis symptoms, signs, and causes.
source: CDC
What is Shigellosis?
Shigellosis is a bacterial infection that can be passed from one person to another. It is caused by the Shigella bacteria, which lives and thrives in fecal matter and can contaminate any food or water near it. If the contamination makes its way into your digestive system, it can cause an infection, leading to Shigellosis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Shigella causes between 500,000 and 600,000 cases of severe diarrhea each year in the United States alone. Worldwide, an estimated 164 million to 553 million cases of Shigellosis occur annually.
History:
Shigellosis has been around for a long time. Shigella was first discovered in 1897 by a Japanese scientist named Kiyoshi Shiga, who isolated it from dysentery patients and noted that it resembled a rod-shaped bacterium he had previously seen while working at the University of Tokyo (in 1896).
Kiyoshi Shiga
Source: Springer Link
It's mostly found in tropical locations and was first identified in India. It's more common in children than adults because their immune systems haven't had the chance to build up defenses against it yet, but it's nothing to worry about.
Symptoms of Shigellosis:
Shigellosis is a bacterial infection in the intestines and colon. It can happen to anyone, and it's most common in developing countries. Symptoms of Shigellosis typically begin 1–2 days after exposure but can take up to a week to appear. It's important to note that not all people will develop symptoms, but that doesn't mean they don't have the bacteria. They can still pass it on.
Symptoms of Shigellosis are usually mild, but some serious cases need medical attention. The symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Fever (often high)
- Abdominal pain
- Bloody stool (this is especially common in children)
There are other symptoms, too. They're rarer and usually show up later after diarrhea has already started. Those symptoms include:
- Dehydration (from losing too much water or salt)
- Bloody urine (from dehydration)
- Skin rashes (usually on the buttocks or lower abdomen)
Some people also experience rectal bleeding or pus in their stools; this typically happens after the first stool that's passed.
Causes of Shigellosis:
Shigellosis is caused by the bacteria called Shigella. This bacteria has four different types (groups): Shigella sonnei, dysenteriae, flexneri, and boydii. These groups can cause different symptoms in different people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Shigella sonnei is the most common cause of Shigellosis in the United States.
The bacteria are spread through contact with stool (feces). People can get infected with Shigella when they put food or fingers in their mouth after touching items or surfaces that have been contaminated with infected feces.
You should also avoid eating raw vegetables or foods that contain raw vegetables that may have been washed in contaminated water, such as salads.
Once the bacteria are ingested, the intestines become inflamed (a condition known as gastroenteritis).
Who is at risk?
Children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of complications. There are no known long-term health effects of Shigellosis, but the condition can be fatal in children under 2 years old.
Conclusion:
That's all. Here we are going to end this article. It is now plain to see that Shigellosis is a digestive tract disease. The disease comes into effect when this organism infects an individual by consuming contaminated food and water. Shigellosis causes death in extreme cases.
also, read the treatment and prevention of Shigellosis here. The link is given below: