ShigellosisBacterial dysentery
Microbial Agent
• Four species of Shigella:– boydii– dysenteriae (causes deadly
epidemics)– flexneri (1/3 of U.S.)– sonnei (about 2/3 of U.S.)
• 448,240 cases in U.S. last year for sonnei and flexneri.
• dysenteriae occurs mostly in Africa and Central America
• Case fatality rates of 5-15%.
Signs and Symptoms
• Infectious disease causing diarrhea (bloody), fever, and stomach cramps
• Usually resolves in 5-7 days.• Children and elderly may
have diarrhea so severe they need to be hospitalized.
• A severe infection in a child less than 2 may have seizures.
• Some show no signs at all, but still pass the Shigella bacteria to others.
Diagnosis
• Many diseases cause the same symptoms
• Determining that Shigella is the cause of the illness depends on laboratory
• Tests identify if it is Shigella, and what type
• Stools of an infected person are tested
Diarrhea with blood and mucus is a typical symptom of Shigella.
Treatment and Prevention
• Can usually be treated with antibiotics
• There is no vaccine to prevent shigellosis
• Frequent hand washing can help
• Food safety and regular drinking water treatment is best prevention
Vegetables could be contaminated by crops harvested from a field with sewage, flies bred in infected feces, and food handlers that are not properly washing their hands
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