Shigella

Shigellosis is a bacterial infection affecting the intestinal tract. It is a fairly common disease

Who gets shigellosis?
Anyone can get shigellosis, but it is recognized most often in young children. Those who may be at greater risk include children in day care centers, travelers to certain foreign countries, and individuals living in institutional settings.

How is the Shigella germ spread?
Shigella germs are found in the intestinal tract of infected people who in turn may contaminate food or water. The Shigella germ is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by direct contact with an infected person. Sexual practices that allow oral or hand contact with stool (feces) may result in spread.

What are the symptoms?
People exposed to the Shigella germ may experience mild or severe diarrhea, often with fever, nausea, and cramps. There may be traces of blood or mucous in the stool. Some infected people may not show any symptoms.

How soon after infection do symptoms appear?
The symptoms may appear 1 to 7 days after exposure, but usually within 2 to 3 days.

When and for how long is a person able to spread shigellosis?
Most people pass Shigella in their stool (feces) for one to four weeks. Certain antibiotics may shorten this time to a few days.

How is shigellosis diagnosed?
Shigellosis is diagnosed by isolating the bacteria from a patient's stool (feces).

What is the treatment for shigellosis?
Most people with shigellosis will recover on their own. Some may require fluids to prevent dehydration. Antibiotics are occasionally used to treat severe cases or shorten the carrier phase, which may be important for food handlers, children in day care, or institutionalized individuals.

Should an infected person be isolated or excluded from school?
Since the shigellosis bacteria is passed in the stool(feces) of an infected person, people with active diarrhea who are unable to control their bowel habits (e.g., infants, young children, certain handicapped individuals) should be isolated. Most infected people may return to work or school when their stools become formed, as long as they carefully wash their hands after using the toilet. Food handlers, children in day care, and health care workers must obtain the approval of the Health Department before returning to their routine activities. This requires follow-up stool testing to be sure that they are no longer infectious.

What can be done to prevent the spread of shigellosis?
Since germs are passed in stool (feces), the single most important prevention activity is frequent and careful hand washing after using the toilet or changing diapers.
When traveling to developing countries, simple precautions can prevent disease. Only drink treated or bottled water and only eat foods that have been adequately cooked or fruits and vegetables that you have peeled yourself.
Avoid unprotected sexual practices that may result in hand or mouth exposure to stool(feces), such as anal sex or oral-anal contact.

** Note **

Please remember that the information presented in this forum is for your education only, and is not intended to extend medical advice or diagnosis. If you have questions or feel that you may be experiencing symptoms similar to those presented, please call the Berkeley County Health Department at (304) 263-5131 or your primary care provider for formal medical attention.