Dysentery is an intestinal infection that presents with fever, abdominal pain and cramps, and bloody, mucus-filled diarrhea. There are two main types: bacillary dysentery, caused by the Shigella bacterium, and amebic dysentery, caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Both spread through contaminated water and food in environments with poor hygiene conditions, and they increase during the summer months.

Symptoms

  • Frequent, small-volume, bloody and mucousy stools
  • A sense of urgency to reach the toilet and straining (tenesmus)
  • Cramp-like pain in the abdomen
  • Fever (usually more prominent in bacillary dysentery)
  • Amebic dysentery may begin more insidiously and last for weeks

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is made through stool examination and, when needed, culture. Bloody diarrhea should not be treated on your own; depending on the causative agent, the appropriate antibiotic or antiparasitic medication is selected by a physician. Fluid therapy (ORS) is the foundation here as well. Anti-diarrheal drugs are especially harmful in cases of bloody diarrhea.

Prevention

  • Make sure water sources are safe; when in doubt, use boiled or bottled water
  • Raw vegetables and fruits should be washed with plenty of water
  • Wash hands after using the toilet and before eating
  • Avoid food sold openly in the street

When Is It an Emergency?

Visible blood in the stool, deterioration of general condition together with high fever, signs of dehydration, and bloody diarrhea in a small infant must be evaluated without delay.

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Related articles: Gastroenteritis · Diarrhea and vomiting

This article is for general informational purposes; it does not replace diagnosis and treatment. For any concerns about your child's health, be sure to consult a pediatric health and diseases specialist.

Uzm. Dr. Hasan Keleş — Specialist in Pediatric Health and Diseases, Gaziantep