Download dysentery, bacillary

DYSENTERY, BACILLARY
(Shigellosis)
A
BASIC INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION
A bacterial infection of the surface layers of the intestinal tract. This is contagious with close personal contact
and occurs in epidemics. It has a 1- to 4-day incubation
period.
FREQUENT SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
• Abdominal cramps.
• Fever.
• Diarrhea (up to 20 or 30 watery bowel movements in
1 day).
• Blood, mucus or pus in the stool.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Muscle aches or pain.
• White-blood-cell count lower than normal at the onset
(sometimes).
CAUSES
Bacteria called Shigella bacillus that invade the lining of
the colon. It spreads from person to person, usually
from contaminated hands, contaminated food or drinking water.
RISK INCREASES WITH
• Travel to foreign countries.
• Crowded or unsanitary living conditions.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
• Wash hands after bowel movements and before handling food.
• Isolate anyone with symptoms of bacillary dysentery.
• Immerse soiled clothes and bedclothes in covered
buckets of soap and water until they can be boiled.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Usually curable in 7 days with treatment. Most shigella
infections are mild and don’t require drastic treatment.
However, in a severe attack, excessive dehydration can
be fatal (especially in infants and young children) if
treatment is unsuccessful.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
• Dangerous dehydration, especially in children.
• In rare cases, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream
from the digestive tract and infect other body organs,
such as kidneys, gallbladder, liver or heart and joints.
This may cause shock and death.
B
TREATMENT
C
NOTIFY OUR OFFICE IF
GENERAL MEASURES
• Diagnostic tests may include laboratory studies and
culture of stool specimen. Diagnosis is aided by knowledge of outbreaks and in endemic areas.
• Treatment includes replacement of fluids, low-residue
diet and medications (sometimes).
• Isolate the patient from others.
• Use a heating pad or hot-water bottle on the abdomen
to relieve pain.
• Maintain fluid intake.
• Hospitalization of persons (especially small children
with dehydration) who are severely ill. Hospital care
will include isolation and intravenous fluid supplements.
MEDICATIONS
• Antibiotics may be prescribed.
• Don’t use paregoric preparations or other antidiarrhea
drugs unless they are prescribed. These may prolong
the illness. If used, discontinue them as soon as possible.
ACTIVITY
Bed rest is necessary, except for trips to the bathroom,
until fever, diarrhea and other symptoms have been
gone for at least 3 days. The legs should be exercised
regularly in bed.
DIET
Liquid or soft diet until diarrhea stops, then return to
normal diet.
• You or your child has symptoms of bacillary dysentery.
• The following occur during treatment:
Fever of 102° F (38.9° C) or more.
Sore throat, headache or earache.
Shortness of breath or severe cough.
Traces of blood in the sputum.
Severe abdominal pain or abdominal swelling.
Rectal bleeding.
Pain in the calf or leg.
Swollen joints.
Signs of dehydration (lethargy, sunken eyes, rapid
weight loss or dry skin) appear.
Copyright © 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.
All rights reserved.
hvordan man kan forebygge behovet for rodbehandling
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