Dysentery

inflammation of the intestine causing diarrhea with blood

Dysentery is a infection of the intestines[1] that causes severe bloody diarrhea. It is caused by a bacterium, which causes the intestines to swell up. The opposite of dysentry is enteritis (diarrhea with no blood).

Soldier suffering from dysentery, image of 1929
Dysentery
Other namesBloody diarrhea
Medical specialtyInfectious disease
SymptomsBloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever[2][3]
ComplicationsDehydration[4]
DurationLess than a week[5]
CausesUsually Shigella or Entamoeba histolytica[2]
Risk factorsContamination of food and water with feces due to poor sanitation[6]
Diagnostic methodBased on symptoms, Stool test
PreventionHand washing, food safety[5]
TreatmentDrinking sufficient fluids, antibiotics (severe cases)[5]
FrequencyOccurs often in many parts of the world[7]
Deaths1.1 million a year[7]

The main symptom of dysentery is having blood or mucus in the excrement.[1][8] Other symptoms are high temperature (fever), feeling sick or being sick, and abdominal pain (stomach cramps).[1] It is usually treated with antibiotics if it does not resolve on its own. The diarrhea is severe and can be a problem for the people who catch the disease. Dysentery can be fatal as it can cause severe dehydration.[8]

Types of dysentery

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There are 2 main types of dysentery:

Shigella results in about 165 million cases of diarrhea and 1.1 million deaths a year with nearly all cases in the developing world.[7] In areas with poor sanitation nearly half of cases of diarrhea are due to Entamoeba histolytica.[6] Entamoeba histolytica affects millions of people and results in more than 55,000 deaths a year.[9] It commonly occurs in less developed areas of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.[9] Dysentery has been described at least since the time of Hippocrates.[10]

Spread and prevention

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Dysentery is highly infectious and can be passed from person to person if the right precautions are not taken, such as properly and regularly washing your hands.[1] These include using soap and water. Hand washing after going to the toilet and before preparing food, and not preparing food for other people while symptoms are present stops the spread. Helping children learn how to wash their hands properly is helpful. Washing clothes, bedding and towels in a washing machine or hot water keeps them clean from germs. Sick people staying away from others others while they are showing symptoms will stop the spread of the cause, as well as not having sexual intercourse while sick. Not going swimming is a good idea to not infect other people.[1]

Children with dysentry should be kept home away from school and adults should stay away from work until the infection clears. Staying until at least 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea, to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to others.[1]

Treatment[1]

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As dysentery usually gets better on its own after 3 to 7 days, treatment is not usually needed.

However, it's important to drink plenty of fluids and use oral rehydration solutions if necessary to avoid dehydration.

Painkillers such as paracetamol, can help relieve pain and a fever. Avoid anti-diarrhoea medicines, such as loperamide, because they can make things worse when taken alone.[8]


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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Dysentery". nhs.uk. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Cite error: The named reference WHO2014 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  3. Cite error: The named reference Dor2009 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  4. Cite error: The named reference EMRO2019 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Cite error: The named reference NHS2019 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  6. 6.0 6.1 Cite error: The named reference Mar2013 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Dysentery (Shigellosis)" (PDF). WHO. November 2016. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "WHO EMRO | Dysentery | Health topics". World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "A Review of the Global Burden, New Diagnostics, and Current Therapeutics for Amebiasis". Open forum infectious diseases. 5 (7). July 2018.
  10. Grove, David (2013-12-19). Tapeworms, Lice, and Prions: A compendium of unpleasant infections. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-165345-2.