Shigellosis
What is shigellosis?
Shigellosis is a type of food poisoning caused by infection with the shigella bacterium. Every year, about 18,000 cases of shigellosis are reported in the United States.1 It is more common in summer than winter. Children ages 2 to 4 are most likely to get the condition.
What causes shigellosis?
Shigellosis is spread when the bacteria in feces (stool) or on soiled fingers are ingested. Poor hand-washing habits and eating contaminated food may cause the condition. Shigellosis is often found in day care centers, nursing homes, refugee camps, and other places where conditions are crowded and sanitation is poor.
- Shigellosis is likely to occur among toddlers who are not fully toilet trained. Family members and playmates of infected children are also at high risk of becoming infected.
- Food may become contaminated by infected food handlers who do not wash their hands with soap after using the bathroom.
- Vegetables can be contaminated if they are harvested from a field with sewage in it. Also, flies can breed in infected feces and then contaminate food.
- Shigellosis can result from drinking or swimming in contaminated water; water may become contaminated if sewage runs into it or if someone with shigellosis swims in it.
- Shigellosis also can be spread through sex, especially through anal and oral sex. Men who have sex with men have an increased risk of getting shigellosis.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of shigellosis include diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps starting 1 or 2 days after you are exposed to the bacteria. Shigellosis usually lasts 5 to 7 days. In some people, especially young children and older adults, the diarrhea can be so severe that hospitalization is needed. Some people who are infected may have no symptoms at all but may still spread shigellosis to others.
How is shigellosis diagnosed?
Because many different diseases can cause a fever and bloody diarrhea, lab tests are the best way to diagnose shigellosis. Your doctor will most likely still do a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms, foods you have recently eaten, and your work and home environments. A stool culture confirms the diagnosis. Blood tests may be done if your symptoms are severe or to rule out other causes.
How is it treated?
Shigellosis is usually treated with antibiotics. But some types of Shigella bacteria are not killed by antibiotics. This is called resistance. Because using antibiotics can make these bacteria even more resistant, mild cases of shigellosis are not often treated with antibiotics. In this case, shigellosis is treated by managing any complications until it passes. Dehydration caused by diarrhea is the most common complication. Do not use medicines to prevent diarrhea.
To prevent dehydration, take frequent sips of a rehydration drink (such as Lytren, Rehydralyte, or Pedialyte). Try to drink a cup of water or rehydration drink for each large, loose stool you have. Sports drinks, soda pop, and fruit juice contain too much sugar and not enough of the important electrolytes that are lost during diarrhea and should only be taken alternately with a rehydration drink.
Try to stick to your normal diet as much as possible. Eating your usual diet will help you to get enough nutrition. Doctors believe that eating a normal diet will also help you feel better faster. But try to avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar. Also avoid spicy foods, alcohol, and coffee for 2 days after all symptoms have disappeared.
How can I prevent shigellosis?
You can help prevent the spread of shigellosis by washing your hands frequently and carefully with soap, especially if you work or spend time in day care centers or with children who are not completely toilet trained. When possible, keep young children with shigellosis who are still in diapers away from uninfected children.
If your child is in diapers and has shigellosis, after diaper changing, wipe the changing area with a disinfectant such as household bleach and put the diapers in a closed-lid garbage can. Then wash your hands with soap and warm water.
Practice safe sex, especially if you are a man who has sex with other men. Avoid sex if your partner has shigellosis.
People who have shigellosis should not prepare food or pour water for others. Shigella are present in the diarrhea of people with shigellosis and for 1 or 2 weeks after symptoms have stopped.
Does shigellosis have any complications?
After shigellosis, it may take months before your bowel movements are completely normal again. But people with diarrhea usually recover completely.
About 3% of people who are infected with one type of shigella bacteria, Shigella flexneri, will later develop pain in their joints, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination.1 This is called Reiter's syndrome. It can last for months or years and can lead to chronic arthritis.
| Author: | Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: March 15, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology | |
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