shigellosis

Key facts

Medical condition (new).name: Shigellosis
Medical condition (new).synonyms: Bacillary dysentery, Marlow syndrome
Medical condition (new).image: Shigella stool.jpg
Medical condition (new).caption: Shigella seen in a stool sample
Medical condition (new).field: Infectious disease
Medical condition (new).symptoms: Diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain
Medical condition (new).complications: Reactive arthritis, sepsis, seizures, hemolytic uremic syndrome
Medical condition (new).onset: 1–2 days post exposure
Medical condition (new).duration: Usually 5–7 days
Medical condition (new).causes: Shigella
Medical condition (new).diagnosis: Stool culture

Article

14 sections

Contents

Signs and symptoms
Cause
Bacteria
Transmission
Mechanism
Diagnosis
Prevention
Vaccine
Treatment
Antibiotics
Epidemiology
See also
References
External links

Shigellosis, known historically as dysentery, is an infection of the intestines caused by Shigella bacteria. Symptoms generally start one to two days after exposure and include diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and feeling the need to pass stools even when the bowels are empty. The diarrhea may be bloody. Symptoms typically last five to seven days and it may take several months before bowel habits return entirely to normal. Complications can include reactive arthritis, sepsis, seizures, and hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Shigellosis is caused by four specific types of Shigella. These are typically spread by exposure to infected feces. This can occur via contaminated food, water, hands or sexual contact. Contamination may be spread by flies or when changing diapers (nappies). Diagnosis is by stool culture.