Dysentery is an infectious disease of the bowels, which is commonly caused by a bacterium called Shigella. It is a highly infectious illness. The shigella bacteria is found in the human intestines can be transferred from one to another person.
Dysentery – An infectious illness
Dysentery is an infection of the intestines, characterized by inflammation does the intestine, severe diarrhoea, pain, with frequent blood and mucus in the stools. The condition is more common in developing nations among children aged less than five years old. Common dysentery symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal bloating, flatulence, Abdomen pain, and vomiting.
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Dysentery Causes
Swallowing of bacteria can cause an infection. Germs spread from one individual to another mainly when someone has diarrhea that includes lose motions and runny bowel movements. It is mainly spread through poor hygiene practices such as not washing hands after using toilets or changing nappies, or sanitary pad. One can also transfer this bacterial infection by eating food that has come in contact with water contaminated with human sewage especially in countries with poor sanitation systems.
Staying away from an infected person and washing hands may prevent the spread of germs. Also, avoid sharing towels after bath or washing hands. Dysentery is very infectious and can easily spread, particularly among children and young, adults. Small children those who wear nappies are more likely to transmit germ to others.
Complications associated with Dysentery
Dehydration- Individual having diarrhoea and frequent vomiting develops dehydration. It is more likely to occur in infants and young children. The condition is dangerous for infants, young children, and older people.
Liver abscess- It is a puss filled mass inside the liver. The condition occurs when amoeba spreads to the liver.
Treatment of Dysentery
The first and foremost thing in managing any episode of dysentery is to maintain fluid intake in the body by using oral rehydration treatment. The maintenance of fluid intake is very important to avoid a life-threatening condition called dehydration. Some conditions require dysentery treatments. This will be identified from fecal samples. People with a healthy immune system recover within 30 days. It is essential to drink lots of fluids as frequent diarrhoea in vomiting can give rise to dehydration. This way you can lose essential minerals and glucose from your body. Your health care specialist may also suggest a re-hydration solution in more persistent cases.
Rehydration therapy- During oral rehydration therapy, your health care specialist may encourage you to drink plenty of fluids to replace the lost fluid because of fo diarrhoea and vomiting. If the diarrhoea and vomiting are profuse, hospitalization may be required for intravenous fluid replacement.
Antibiotic and amoebicidal drugs
If you are suffering from dysentery (Shigella), You will receive no medication as the illness will resolve within seven days. However, in such cases, oral rehydration is very important.
In case of amoebic dysentery, the ten days course of an antimicrobial medication such as diloxanide, metronidazole, iodoquinol, paromomycin may be given to make sure the amoeba the amoeba does not survive in the body after all the symptoms disappear.
Antirheumatic medication such as ridaura is a low dose treatment for treating amoebic infections that cause dysentery.
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Prevention of Dysentery
- Wash your hands carefully after coming in contact with potentially infected surfaces of people.
- Do not forget to wash your hands after handling foods, using toilets, and before you touch any surfaces.
- Always use separate towels to prevent the infection.
- Try to eat hot two hours within in preparation.
- Cook all your vegetable properly, cook it to 40celsius to 600 Avoid keeping raw food items and cooked food together at the same lace to avoid contamination.
- Disinfect toilets after use, if your family member has dysentery.
- Wash all your clothes that come in contact with yours. Prefer washing your clothes in warm water.
