Dysentery, Bacillary

Synonyms

Shigellosis

Definition

Dysentery is an infection of the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation of the colon wall, frequent loose stools, cramping abdominal pain, appearance of mucus, blood and pus in the feces.

Bacillary dysentery is a type of dysentery that is caused by bacteria of the genus Shigella, although sometimes Campylobacter, Salmonella, and other related bacteria may cause clinically similar diseases. In the Western world, bacillary dysentery is most commonly transmitted through fecal-oral route, e.g., during care for a sick person or through a variety of household items contaminated with secretions of the patient. It is highly contagious as symptoms may result from ingestion of only 10–100 organisms. As such, Shigella outbreaks are often associated with crowded living conditions and less than optimal hygiene conditions, e.g., military troops deployed in camps, nursing homes, day-care centers, and prions. Shigellacontamination can also occur during sexual...