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Nov 14, 2022 · 4 min read. What Is Dysentery? Dysentery is an infection in your intestines that causes bloody diarrhea. It can be caused by a parasite or bacteria. Dysentery Causes. What type...
- Overview
- Types of dysentery
- What causes dysentery and who is at risk?
- How is dysentery diagnosed?
- Treatment options
- Possible complications
- Outlook
- How to prevent dysentery
Dysentery is an intestinal infection. Treatment will depend on what caused the infection and may include over-the-counter remedies or antibiotics.
Dysentery is an intestinal infection that causes severe diarrhea with blood. In some cases, mucus may be found in the stool. This usually lasts for 3 to 7 days.
Other symptoms may include:
•abdominal cramps or pain
•nausea
•vomiting
Most people who experience dysentery develop either bacterial dysentery or amebic dysentery.
Bacterialdysentery is caused by infection with bacteria from Shigella, Campylobacter, Salmonella, or enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Diarrhea from Shigella is also known as shigellosis. Shigellosis is the most common type of dysentery, with about 500,000 cases diagnosed in the United States each year.
Amebic dysentery is caused by a single-celled parasite that infects the intestines. It’s also known as amebiasis.
Amebic dysentery is less common in the developed world. It’s usually found in tropical locales that have poor sanitary conditions. In the United States, most cases of amebic dysentery occur in people who have traveled to an area where it’s common.
Shigellosis and amebic dysentery typically result from poor sanitation. This refers to environments where people who don’t have dysentery come into contact with fecal matter from people who do have dysentery.
This contact may be through:
•contaminated food
•contaminated water and other drinks
•poor hand washing by infected people
•swimming in contaminated water, such as lakes or pools
If you or your child has symptoms of dysentery, see your doctor. If left untreated, dysentery can lead to severe dehydration and become life-threatening.
At your appointment, your doctor will review your symptoms and any recent travels. You should note any travels outside of the country. This information can help your doctor narrow down the possible cause of your symptoms.
Many conditions can cause diarrhea. If you don’t have other symptoms of dysentery, your doctor will order diagnostic testing to determine which bacteria are present. This includes a blood test and a lab test of a stool sample.
Your doctor may also perform addition testing to decide whether an antibiotic will help.
Mild shigellosis is usually treated just with rest and plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter medication, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), can help relieve cramps and diarrhea. You should avoid drugs that slow down the intestines, such as loperamide (Imodium) or atropine-diphenoxylate (Lomotil), which can make the condition worse.
Severe shigellosis can be treated with antibiotics, but the bacteria that causes it are often resistant. If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic and you don’t see improvement after a couple of days, let the doctor know. Your strain of Shigella bacteria may be resistant, and your doctor may need to adjust your treatment plan.
Amebic dysentery is treated with metronidazole (Flagyl) or tinidazole (Tindamax). These drugs kill the parasites. In some cases, a follow-up drug is given to make sure all the parasites are gone.
In severe cases, your doctor may recommend an intravenous (IV) drip to replace fluids and prevent dehydration.
In some cases, dysentery can lead to complications. These include:
Postinfectious arthritis: This affects about 2 percent of people who get a particular strain of the Shigella bacteria called S. flexneri. These people can develop joint pain, eye irritation, and painful urination. Postinfectious arthritis can last for months or years.
Blood stream infections: These are rare and most likely to affect people with weak immune systems, such as people with HIV or cancer.
Seizures: Sometimes young children can have generalized seizures. It isn’t clear why this happens. This complication generally resolves without treatment.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS): One type of Shigella bacteria, S. dysenteriae, can sometimes cause HUS by making a toxin that destroys red blood cells.
In rare cases, amebic dysentery can result in liver abscess or parasites spreading to the lungs or brain.
Shigellosis usually goes away within a week or so and doesn’t require prescription medications. If you have shigellosis, avoid preparing food for other people and don’t go swimming. People who have shigellosis and work with children, in food preparation, or in healthcare should stay home until the diarrhea has stopped. If you or a partner has shigellosis, avoid having sex until the diarrhea has stopped.
Most people with amebic dysentery are sick for anywhere from a few days to several weeks. If you suspect amebic dysentery, it’s important to get immediate medical attention. Your doctor must prescribe medication to get rid of the parasite that causes this type of dysentery.
Shigellosis can be prevented through good sanitation practices, such as:
•frequent hand washing
•being careful when changing a sick baby’s diaper
•not swallowing water when swimming
The best way to prevent amebic dysentery is to be careful about what you eat and drink while visiting an area where it’s common. When travelling to these areas, you should avoid:
•drinks with ice cubes
Aug 15, 2022 · Dysentery is a gastrointestinal disease. Its causes include bacterial or parasitic infections. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and stomach cramps. Your healthcare provider can diagnose dysentery with a stool culture. Treatment includes antibiotics.
Nov 29, 2023 · Summary. Dysentery is an intestinal infection that causes diarrhea containing blood or mucus. Symptoms can also include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. It can...
Mar 21, 2023 · Digestive Health. What Is Dysentery? By Kelly Burch. Updated on March 21, 2023. Medically reviewed by Sonal Kumar, MD. Print. Table of Contents. View All. What Is Dysentery? Dysentery Symptoms and Types. Causes. Diagnosis and Treatment. Prevention. Dysentery is severe diarrhea that may contain visible blood or mucus.
Sep 28, 2023 · It leads to abdominal pain, cramping, loose, bloody stools, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Dysentery is most common in developing countries with poor sanitation but still occurs...
Jul 25, 2022 · What is amebiasis? Amebiasis, or amoebic dysentery, is a gastrointestinal illness that develops when an organism called a parasite enters your intestines. The illness may cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and fever. Healthcare providers usually treat it with antibiotics. Advertisement. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
