Symptoms of Shigellosis Explained
Shigellosis is a gastrointestinal infection caused by the Shigella bacteria. This article aims to help people and medical personnel identify symptoms of shigellosis. This disease is spread by contact with an infected person or contaminated food or water. Several types of Shigella cause illness, and they vary in severity.
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Symptoms of Shigellosis are not that easy to spot as it is a condition that is quite common in adults and children. Aside from shigella signs, one should also pay attention to shigella symptoms and what they mean (different types of signs). There are four major species of Shigella bacteria, each named according to their originating country. About 300 cases of shigellosis occur in the United States every day. The disease is the second leading cause of diarrheal disease in the world.
Symptoms of Shigellosis:
Shigellosis (shig-uh-LOW-sis) is an illness caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella (Shih-GEHL-uh). Most infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after exposure to the bacteria. Shigella spreads from person to person, usually when someone with the infection does not wash their hands properly after a bowel movement or changes a diaper. You can get shigellosis by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with Shigella.
Symptoms of shigellosis usually start anywhere from one to seven days after you've been exposed to Shigella bacteria. They can last between four to seven days. You may feel like you've gotten over the illness and then have a relapse of symptoms.
The symptoms of shigellosis may include:
- Severe diarrhea
- Bloody diarrhea
- Fever
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
One of the most common symptoms of shigellosis is diarrhea, which typically lasts up to a week. Sometimes people may pass stools up to 20 times a day. Diarrhea caused by Shigella is often very watery and can contain blood or mucus. In cases where diarrhea contains mucus, it may appear white and stringy. If the stool contains blood and mucus, it will appear tarry and dark or bright red.
Having a fever is also common with shigellosis, especially if blood is in your stool. You may also experience pain in your lower abdomen, sometimes called cramping. This is caused by inflammation of the colon (colitis) or inflammation of the lining of your intestines (enteritis). Shigellosis can also lead to dehydration if you lose more fluid due to frequent bowel movements than you are taking in.
Risks from Shigellosis:
People with compromised immune systems, particularly those with HIV/AIDS or cancer, are at increased risk for developing invasive shigellosis. Shigella bacteria can invade the bloodstream and infect other organs, making them difficult to treat and potentially leading to death. If you have shigellosis, your body may experience some rare problems. However, they should go away quickly. They include:
Reactive arthritis:
Reactive arthritis is a form of joint inflammation (arthritis) that occurs as a "reaction" to an infection in another part of your body. Bacteria like Shigella or salmonella most often cause intestinal infection. HUS is a serious condition in which red blood cells are destroyed, and the kidneys fail. Toxic megacolon is a severe widening of the colon that causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Seizures are also caused by abnormal brain electrical activity.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS):
The bacteria can cause your red blood cells to burst, damaging your kidneys and the rest of your body. This symptom is most common in children under 5 years old. It can be deadly if not handled appropriately.
Symptoms of Shigellosis in Infants and older people:
In the elderly or very young, shigellosis can cause:
- Seizures
- Dehydration
- Irritability
- Swelling of brain tissues
Conclusion:
So, in conclusion, Shigella is a fairly common illness that causes a few days of discomfort. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and take an antibiotic if you have any doubts. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating or preparing food, after using the toilet or changing diapers, and touching your mouth. Wash thoroughly when you can.
If you want to know about the treatment and prevention of Shigellosis, Kindly read the below-given article.