Shigella is a type of bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea, most often in children. WebMD explains causes, symptoms, and treatment.MenuNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersHealthyEatingFood&NutrientsSmartSwapsGroceryShoppingCookingTipsSpecialDietsFood&RecipesFoodAllergiesDigestiveDisordersTraveler'sDiarrheaStomach&DigestiveProblemsAbdominalPainMoreRelatedTopicsFood&RecipesFoodPoisoningReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyCarolDerSarkissian, MDonDecember07,2020InthisArticleHowDoYouGetShigellosis?WhatAretheSymptoms?DoesItCauseOtherProblems?HowIsitDiagnosed?What'stheTreatment?CanIPreventShigellosis?Youmayfeelasharpcrampinyourstomachandlowerabdomen.Then,youmayhavetheurgetousethebathroom--asmanyas10to30timesadaywhenyouhaveshigellosis,atypeoffoodpoisoning.Causedbyagroupofbacteriacalledshigella,thisinfectioncancausebellypain,fever,andwateryorbloodydiarrhea.Theillnessiscommonamongyoungchildren,whousuallygetinfectedatdaycareorschool.Youmightalsogetshigellosiswhileyou’revisitingdevelopingcountrieswherepoorhygienecouldcausetraveler’sdiarrhea.Thediseaseusuallygoesawayin5to7dayswithrestandfluids.Butinseverecases,youmayneedtogotothehospital.ShigellosisiscommonintheUnitedStateswithaboutahalf-millioncaseseveryyear.It’sfarmoredeadlyinpoorercountries(about165millioncasesandabout1milliondeathsworldwideeveryyear).HowDoYouGetShigellosis?TheShigellabacteriapassthroughyourstomachandthenmultiplyinyoursmallintestines.Theythenspreadintoyourlargeintestines(alsoknownascolon),causingcrampinginthatpartofyourbody,alongwithdiarrhea.Shigellaleavesthebodythroughhumanfeces.Thediseasespreadswhenbacteriafromthestoolofthesickpersongotothemouthofanotherperson.Youmaybewondering:Howonearthdoesthathappen?Shigellaspreadsmoreeasilythanyoumightthink.Herearesomeways:Touchingobjects.Forexample,youmaychangethediaperofachildwhohasshigellosis.Ifyoudon’twashyourhandsthoroughly,youcouldleavethebacteriabehindonobjectsyoutouchnext,suchaschangingtables,toys,anddoorknobs.Thepeoplewhotouchthoseinfectedsurfac