Shigella Infection

Shigella infection, also known as shigellosis, is a sickness that affects the intestines. It's caused by tiny organisms called Shigella bacteria.

Young children, especially those under five, are more prone to getting shigella infection, but anyone can get it. The bacteria spread easily from the stool of an infected person. They can be found on hands, surfaces, food, or water. You get sick when you swallow these bacteria.

The main sign of a shigella infection is diarrhea. This diarrhea can be bloody or last for a long time. Other symptoms might include a fever and tummy aches.

In most cases, shigella infection goes away on its own within about a week. If the illness is severe, a doctor might prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria.

To help prevent shigella infection, it's important to wash your hands frequently, especially after changing diapers or using the restroom. If you're swimming in ponds, lakes, or pools, try not to swallow the water. Good hygiene practices are key to avoiding this illness.

Shigella infection symptoms typically appear a day or two after exposure to the bacteria. Sometimes, symptoms don't show up for up to a week.

Common signs of infection include:

• Watery diarrhea: This diarrhea might have blood or mucus in it, and can last more than three days.
• Stomach pain or cramps: This discomfort can range from mild to severe.
• Frequent urge to poop: Even when your bowels feel empty, you might feel the strong need to go.
• Fever: A fever is a common symptom of infection.
• Nausea and vomiting: These upset stomach symptoms are also possible.

These symptoms usually disappear within seven days, but sometimes they last longer. Importantly, some people infected with shigella don't experience any symptoms at all. Even without symptoms, the bacteria can still be passed through stool for several weeks. This means you can spread the infection even if you feel fine.

If you or your child are experiencing diarrhea, it's important to contact a healthcare professional or seek immediate medical attention. This is especially crucial if:

• Your diarrhea is bloody. This could signal a serious infection.

• Your diarrhea is causing significant weight loss and dehydration. If you're losing weight or feeling very thirsty, it's a sign your body needs extra help.

• Your diarrhea is accompanied by a fever of 102°F (39°C) or higher. A fever with diarrhea can indicate a more serious illness.

• You have severe stomach cramps or tenderness. This kind of pain is a clear indication that something might be wrong.

• You're vomiting frequently and can't keep down fluids. Being unable to keep liquids down can quickly lead to dehydration.

• You're showing signs of dehydration. This includes producing little or no urine, having a very dry mouth and throat, or feeling dizzy when standing up. Dehydration is a serious concern and needs immediate attention.

If you have a weakened immune system (like from a medical condition or treatment), call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of Shigella. People with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick for a longer period of time from Shigella.

Shigella is a bacterial infection you get when you swallow shigella bacteria. This happens in a few ways:

• Touching your mouth: Shigella germs can easily get on your hands. This could happen if you change a diaper of someone with shigella, touch a contaminated object like a toy or changing table, or even through sexual contact with someone who has the infection. The bacteria then travel from your hands to your mouth. Think of it like this: If you touch something contaminated, the germs can be transferred to your hands, and if you then touch your mouth, you can swallow the germs.

• Eating contaminated food: A person with shigella can spread the germs if they handle food. For example, if someone with shigella prepares food, they might unknowingly spread the bacteria to others who eat it. Food can also become contaminated if it grows in a place where there's sewage or other waste. This means the food is no longer safe to eat.

• Drinking contaminated water: Sewage can contaminate water sources, making them unsafe to drink. Even if the water comes from a clean source, if someone with shigella has used that water for swimming, it can become contaminated. So, consuming water that's been in contact with sewage or someone with shigella is a risk.

In short, shigella spreads easily through contact with contaminated surfaces, food, and water. Washing your hands frequently and thoroughly is a crucial step in preventing the spread of this infection.

Shigella infection, a bacterial illness, can affect anyone, but certain factors increase the chance of getting it.

Young age is a risk factor. Children under five are particularly vulnerable to shigella, but adults can get it too.

Close contact with others. Shigella spreads easily from person to person through close contact. This is why outbreaks are more common in places where people are in close proximity, such as:

• Childcare centers
• Schools
• Public pools and water parks
• Nursing homes
• Other group living situations

Lack of sanitation. People living or traveling in areas with limited access to clean water and proper sewage disposal are at higher risk. This means the germs that cause shigella have a higher chance of spreading in their environment.

Sexual activity. Shigella can be spread through oral-anal contact. This means that men who have sex with men are more susceptible to shigella. The bacteria can be passed from one person's stool or contaminated fingers to another person's mouth.

Homelessness. People experiencing homelessness may be more at risk due to living in crowded conditions and often having less access to clean water and sanitation. This makes them more exposed to the germs that cause shigella.

Weakened immune system. People with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV or those undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, are more likely to develop a severe shigella infection. Their bodies might not be able to fight off the infection as effectively.

Shigella infection can take several weeks or months for your body to return to normal bowel function. Most of the time, the infection goes away on its own without causing any further health problems.

However, persistent diarrhea can lead to dehydration. This happens when your body loses too much fluid. Signs of dehydration include dizziness, dry eyes (especially in children), sunken eyes, and dry diapers. Severe dehydration can be very dangerous, potentially leading to shock and even death.

Some children with shigella infections may have seizures. These can involve changes in behavior, jerking movements, and loss of consciousness. Seizures are more common in children with high fevers, but they can happen even without a fever. Doctors don't fully understand why seizures occur with shigella, whether it's due to the fever itself or the infection. If you think your child is having a seizure, contact a healthcare professional immediately.

In some cases, a part of the large intestine might slip out of the anus. This is called a prolapse. This is more likely to happen in children with shigella who aren't getting enough nutrients.

A rare but serious complication of shigella is a problem with the blood vessels, sometimes affecting the kidneys. This can lead to kidney failure.

Another rare complication involves the colon, the part of the large intestine that pushes waste out of the body. The colon may have trouble moving stool and gas, causing it to swell. This can lead to pain and swelling in the stomach area, fever, and weakness. Without treatment, the colon could rupture, creating a life-threatening infection called peritonitis. Peritonitis requires immediate surgery.

Weeks or months after a shigella infection, some children may develop joint pain and swelling, often in the ankles, knees, feet, and hips. Other symptoms might include painful urination or redness, itching, and discharge in one or both eyes.

In very rare cases, shigella bacteria can enter the bloodstream, causing a serious infection called bacteremia. Shigella can damage the lining of the intestines. When this happens, the bacteria can sometimes travel into the bloodstream. This is more common in adults with weakened immune systems and in children.

Preventing Shigella Infection: Simple Steps to Stay Healthy

Shigella is a bacteria that can cause diarrhea. Here's how to protect yourself and others from getting it:

Preventing Infection:

• Wash your hands frequently: Use soap and water, and scrub for at least 20 seconds. This is crucial before and after handling food, before and after any sexual activity, after using the toilet, and after changing diapers. Washing your hands properly removes germs.

• Proper diaper disposal: Put soiled diapers in a covered, lined garbage can. This prevents the spread of germs.

• Clean diaper-changing areas: Disinfect surfaces immediately after diaper changes, especially if there's a leak or spill. Germs can spread easily from dirty surfaces.

• Avoid swallowing untreated water: Don't drink water from ponds, lakes, or pools that haven't been properly treated. These sources can contain shigella.

• Safe sexual practices: If someone has diarrhea, or has recently recovered from diarrhea, avoid sexual contact for at least two weeks. Shigella can be spread through sexual contact.

Preventing the Spread of Shigella if You Have It:

• Constant handwashing: If you or your child has diarrhea, washing hands is even more important. Children need close supervision when washing their hands to make sure they're doing it thoroughly.

• Avoid preparing food: If you're sick with diarrhea, try not to prepare food for others. This helps prevent spreading germs through food.

• Stay home from work: If you have shigella, stay home from work, especially if you work in healthcare, food service, or childcare. This prevents infecting others.

• Keep children home: If a child has diarrhea, keep them home from school, daycare, or playgroups. This prevents spreading germs to others.

• Avoid swimming: Don't swim until you're fully recovered from shigella. Shigella can spread through contaminated water.

By following these simple steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of getting shigella and help prevent its spread to others.

Finding out if you have Shigella involves a checkup and some tests. Many things can cause diarrhea, including bloody diarrhea. It's not always Shigella.

To figure out if it's Shigella, a sample of your stool is needed. This sample is sent to a lab. The lab looks for the bacteria that cause Shigella, or the harmful chemicals (toxins) these bacteria produce.

Shigella infection treatment varies depending on its severity. Most cases are mild and clear up within a week. If you're healthy, replacing lost fluids through drinking plenty of water and other fluids might be all you need.

Before taking any over-the-counter diarrhea medicine, talk to your doctor. Many things can cause diarrhea, and these medicines could worsen some conditions.

If a doctor confirms a shigella infection, a medicine containing bismuth subsalicylate (like Pepto-Bismol) might help. This is available without a prescription and might reduce how often you have to go to the bathroom and shorten the illness. However, it's not recommended for kids, pregnant or breastfeeding people, or those allergic to aspirin.

Don't take medicines like loperamide (Imodium) or diphenoxylate with atropine (Lomotil) for shigella. These can actually make the infection worse by hindering the body's ability to fight the shigella bacteria.

For severe shigella infections, a doctor might prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Antibiotics can help the illness go away faster. But some shigella bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, so your doctor might not recommend them unless the infection is very serious.

People who are at higher risk of developing serious shigella infections, such as infants, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems, often need antibiotics. Antibiotics might also be needed if the infection poses a serious risk of spreading to others.

If you're given antibiotics, follow the doctor's instructions carefully and take all the medication, even if you feel better.

For healthy adults, drinking plenty of water is often enough to prevent dehydration from diarrhea.

Children and adults who are significantly dehydrated need treatment in a hospital emergency room. This treatment, called intravenous hydration, involves giving fluids and salts directly into a vein. This is much faster than trying to replace fluids through drinking and helps the body get the water and nutrients it needs quickly.