Shigellosis is a bacterial infection that affects the digestive system. Shigellosis is caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. The Shigella bacterium is spread ...ShigellosisMedicallyreviewedbyMarkLaFlamme,MD—WrittenbyEricaRoth—UpdatedonFebruary1,2019SymptomsTreatmentComplicationsRe-InfectionPreventionWhatIsShigellosis?Shigellosisisabacterialinfectionthataffectsthedigestivesystem.ShigellosisiscausedbyagroupofbacteriacalledShigella.TheShigellabacteriumisspreadthroughcontaminatedwaterandfoodorthroughcontactwithcontaminatedfeces.Thebacteriareleasetoxinsthatirritatetheintestines.Theprimarysymptomofshigellosisisdiarrhea.AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC),about500,000peopleintheUnitedStatesreporthavingshigellosiseveryyear.Thesymptomsvaryinintensity.Youmayhaveamildshigellosisinfectionandnotevenrealizeorreportit.Toddlersandpreschoolersaremorelikelythanolderchildrenandadultstogetshigellosis.Thismaybebecauseyoungchildrenputtheirfingersintheirmouthsoftenandaremorelikelytoingestthebacteria.Thelargenumberofdiaperchangesinchildcarecentersmayalsoincreasetheconcentrationofinfectioninthisagegroup.RecognizingtheSymptomsofShigellosisFrequentboutsofwaterydiarrheaarethemainsymptomofshigellosis.Abdominalcramping,nausea,andvomitingmayalsooccur.Manypeoplewhohaveshigellosisalsohaveeitherbloodormucusintheirstool,andtheymayrunafever.Symptomsusuallybeginwithin3daysofcomingincontactwithShigella.Insomecases,however,symptomsofinfectionmayappearasmuchasaweekaftercontact.Diarrheaandothersignsofshigellosisusuallylastbetween2and7days.Mildinfectionlastingacoupleofdaysmaynotrequiretreatment.However,it’scriticaltostayhydratedinbetweenboutsofdiarrhea.Callyourdoctorifyouhavediarrheaformorethan3days.Thisisveryimportant,especiallyifyoucannotkeepdownfoodorwater.Dehydrationisarealdangerassociatedwithshigellosis.TreatmentforShigellosisCombatingdehydrationisthemaingoaloftreatmentformostcasesofshigellosis.Itisimportanttodrinkplentyoffluids,especiallyelectrolytesolutions,manyofwhichar