Shigella (bacillary dysentery)

Pathogen

Epidemiology

  • Endemic and epidemics

  • Humans only natural host

  • Person-to-person contact or ingestion of contaminated water or food

Clinical

  • Mild (intermittent watery diarrhoea) to severe (frequent bloody stools)

  • Complications: toxic megacolon, perforation, haemolytic-uraemic syndrome and more...

Diagnosis

  • Stool microscopy & culture

Management

  • Hydration

  • Antibiotics (e.g. ciprofloxacin) for severe disease

Prevention

  • Food/hand hygiene

  • No vaccine