Treatment of Shigellosis in Detail

Shigellosis is an infection caused by the Shigella bacterium. In the previous article, we have discussed the causes, symptoms, and risk factors and its time for the treatment of shigellosis in detail. Most Shigella infections cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps a day or two after being exposed to the bacteria.

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Note: Shigellosis usually resolves in 5 to 7 days. Some infected people may have no symptoms but may still pass the Shigella bacteria to others. Most healthy adults diagnosed with shigellosis recover completely without needing any treatment. However, infants and young children and those with underlying conditions such as leukemia may have a more severe illness and require hospitalization and antibiotic treatment.

Overview of Shigellosis:

Shigellosis is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by Shigella bacteria. Shigella is a genus of Gram-negative, nonmotile, non-spore-forming rods possessing peritrichous flagella that are generally 1 to 2 micrometers long and 0.2 to 0.5 micrometers in diameter. They can ferment various sugars with acid and gas production but not produce indole.

Shigellosis is contagious, and the disease can spread from one infected person to another. Diarrheal feces can often be found in food and drinking water due to poor sanitation, sometimes caused by improper sewage disposal or fecal contamination of drinking water. Infected people often pass the organism in their feces for a week or two after the symptoms have gone away. The disease may become more severe in people with compromised immune systems. In rare cases, people with severe diarrhea due to shigellosis may be at risk for the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that may lead to kidney failure.

If you want to read about the risks people face, then kindly read the below-given article. It includes all the details:

Symptoms of Shigellosis Explained

Diagnosis of Shigellosis:

Shigellosis is typically diagnosed by identifying the bacteria in the stool of an infected person. Identification of the bacteria usually requires at least one test, although multiple tests are sometimes required.

The most common test for diagnosing shigellosis is culture. Your doctor will collect a stool sample and send it to a laboratory to perform this test. The laboratory adds special nutrients to the sample and places it in an incubator at body temperature. If Shigella bacteria are present in the sample, they will grow in the incubator. After approximately 18 hours, your doctor will be notified if Shigella bacteria have grown in the sample.

If Shigella bacteria have grown in the sample, additional testing must be done to identify which species of Shigella is present. This identification helps determine which antibiotics would best treat an infection with that particular species.

Treatment of Shigellosis:

Most mild cases of shigellosis clear up in about a week without treatment of shigellosis. However, it's essential to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. For most patients, shigellosis is a self-limited disease that resolves within five to seven days. Treatment of shigellosis includes:

Antibiotics:

Antibiotics can help kill the bacteria that cause shigellosis and prevent it from spreading. Many different kinds of antibiotics can be used for this purpose, including penicillin and other antibiotics such as amoxicillin and cephalosporins.

Hydration:

Shigellosis is a serious diarrheal illness that can cause dehydration. Drinking plenty of fluids while you are sick will ensure you do not become dehydrated and should be the first step in treating shigellosis at home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend drinking water, sports drinks, or oral rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte or Ricelyte to replace lost fluids and electrolytes during an episode of diarrhea.

Finally, there is also an option for those who have severe cases of shigellosis, and it is:

Immunotherapy:

This treatment involves using antibodies produced in the body's immune system against specific proteins found on or within Shigella cells, which helps fight off infection.

Antibiotics are usually not needed for healthy patients aged five years and older with the mild-to-moderate infection without dysentery syndrome; however, antibiotic treatment of shigellosis may shorten the duration of diarrhea and asymptomatic carriage and reduce household transmission.

Conclusion:

Shigella infections can be a serious infectious disease. The bacterial action within the body and the body's responses can cause the patient to undergo not only physical but also psychological suffering. It is essential to diagnose shigellosis and conduct a complete treatment course to help eliminate the problem.