Shigella Essay

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Unit 9 Shigella Shigella infection (shigellosis) is an intestinal disease caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella. The main sign of shigella infection is diarrhea, which often is bloody. Shigella can be passed through direct contact with the bacteria in the stool. For example, this can happen in a child care setting when staff members don't wash their hands well enough after changing diapers or helping toddlers with toilet training. Shigella bacteria also can be passed in contaminated food or by drinking or swimming in contaminated water. Children between the ages of 2 and 4 are most likely to get shigella infection. A mild case usually clears up on its own within a week. When treatment is needed, doctors generally prescribe antibiotics. Symptoms: •Diarrhea (often containing blood or mucus) •Abdominal cramps •Fever Causes: Infection occurs when you accidentally swallow shigella bacteria. Touching your mouth Eating contaminated food Swallowing contaminated water Risk factors: Being a toddler, living in group housing or participating in group activities, living or traveling in areas that lack sanitation. Complications: Dehydration. Persistent diarrhea can cause dehydration. Symptoms include lightheadedness, dizziness, lack of tears in children, sunken eyes and dry diapers. Severe dehydration can lead to shock and death. •Seizures. Some children who run high fevers with a shigella infection have seizures. It's not known whether the convulsions are a result of the fever or the shigella infection itself. If your child has a seizure, contact your doctor immediately. •Rectal prolapse. In this condition, straining during bowel movements may cause the mucous membrane, or lining, of the rectum to move out through the anus. •Hemolytic uremic syndrome. This rare complication of shigella, more commonly caused by bacteria called E. coli, can lead

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