Shigellosis

What is Shigellosis?

Shigellosis ia also known as bacillary dysentery. Shigellosis is an acute infection caused by bacterium Shigella which results in high fever, dehydration, dysentery and gastrointestinal discomfort. It frequently found in contaminate food, water polluted with human feces, and is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. It rarely occurs in animals and principally a disease of humans and primates like monkeys and chimpanzees. It affects the people of any age but specially common in children between the age of 2 to 3 years and normally resolves in 5-7 days.It is mostly seen in the summer and early fall. There are different types of Shigella bacteria-

• Shigella sonnei ( Group D)
• Shigella flexneri (Group B)
• Shigella dysenteriae (Type 1)
  
  

Causes of Shigellosis

• It is caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella

Symptoms of Shigellosis

• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Mucous in the stool
• Nausea

What are the treatments for Shigellosis?

• Replace fluids and salts lost either orally or intravenously.
• Antibiotics-
  • Ampicilin- Give 25mg/kg 4 times a day for 5 days for children .for adults give 1g 4 times a day for 5 days.
  • Nalidixic acid (ciprofloxacin) -Give 15mg/kg 4 times a day for 5 days for children. for adults give 1g 3 times a day for 5 days
  • Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (cotrimoxazole)-Give TMP 5mg/kg and SMX 25mg/kg twice a day for 5 days for children. for adults give TMP 160mg and SMX 800mg twice a day for 5 days (should not use in jaundiced and children under 1 month)
    If the above medicines are not available in liquid form then give the approximate dose as crushed tablets for children.