Verified By Apollo Hospitals September 17, 2024
Dysentery is an intestinal inflammation that usually takes place in the in the colon, and can result in severe diarrhoea with mucus or blood in the faeces.
There are two types of dysentery:
Bacillary dysentery which is caused by Shigella, a type of bacteria. Amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis) which is caused by Entamoeba histolytica, a type of amoeba found in the tropics, thereby affecting people in tropical countries.
The most common signs and symptoms of dysentery include:
If you have any/some/all of the above symptoms, prompt medical attention is advised.
You are more at risk of getting dysentery if:
In order to confirm a diagnosis of dysentery, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and then carry out a physical exam.
If the problem is not diagnosed in the physical exam, the following tests may be recommended:
Once the diagnosis of dysentery is confirmed, treatment will be given depending on the severity of the symptoms. If symptoms are not severe and the doctor determines it is Bacillary dysentery (Shigella), there is little or no medication required and the illness goes away within a week.
If your doctor diagnoses amoebic dysentery, you will be probably start with a 10-day course of an antimicrobial medication, such as Flagyl (metronidazole). Diloxanide furoate, paromomycin , or iodoquinol, depending on the severity of symptoms.