Overview. Shigella infection (shigellosis) is an intestinal infection caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella. The main sign of shigella ...Scheduleyourappointmentnowforsafein-personcare.Learnmore:MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19)Our COVID-19patient andvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformationLateston COVID-19vaccination bysite:ArizonapatientvaccinationupdatesArizona,FloridapatientvaccinationupdatesFlorida,RochesterpatientvaccinationupdatesRochesterandMayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdatesMCHSSkiptositenavigationSkiptoContentThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion.SectionsforShigellainfectionSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentPrintOverviewShigellainfection(shigellosis)isanintestinalinfectioncausedbyafamilyofbacteriaknownasshigella.Themainsignofshigellainfectionisdiarrhea,whichoftenisbloody.Shigellaisverycontagious.Peoplegetinfectedwithshigellawhentheycomeincontactwithandswallowsmallamountsofbacteriafromthestoolofapersonwhoisinfectedwithshigella.Forexample,thiscanhappeninachildcaresettingwhenstaffmembersdon'twashtheirhandswellenoughafterchangingdiapersorhelpingtoddlerswithtoilettraining.Shigellabacteriacanalsobepassedininfectedfoodorbydrinkingorswimminginunsafewater.Childrenunderage5aremostlikelytogetshigellainfection,butitcanoccuratanyage.Amildcaseusuallyclearsuponitsownwithinaweek.Whentreatmentisneeded,doctorsgenerallyprescribeantibiotics.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinicSymptomsSignsandsymptomsofshigellainfectionusuallybeginadayortwoaftercontactwithshigella.Butitmaytakeuptoaweektodevelop.Signsandsymptomsmayinclude:Diarrhea(oftencontainingbloodormucus)StomachpainorcrampsFeverNauseaorvomitingSymptomsgenerallylastforaboutfivetosevendays.Insomecases,symptomsmaylastlonger.Somepeoplehavenosymptomsafterthey'vebeeninfectedwithshigella.However,theirfecesmaystillbecontagiousuptoafewweeks.Whentos