Shigella enteritis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Shigella enteritis

Alternative Names:

Shigellosis; Shigella gastroenteritis
Treatment:

The natural course of the disease is 2-3 days. The objective of treatment is to replace fluids and electrolytes (salt and minerals) lost in diarrhea.

Antidiarrheal medications are generally not given because they may prolong the course of the disease.

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Self-care measures to avoid dehydration include drinking electrolyte solutions to replace the fluids lost by diarrhea. Several varieties of electrolyte solutions are now available over the counter.

Antibiotics may be indicated for patients with severe symptoms. Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim), ampicillin, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), or chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin) are frequently used.

People with diarrhea who are unable to take fluids by mouth because of nausea may need medical attention and intravenous fluids, especially small children.

People taking diuretics should be cautious if they develop diarrhea, and may be directed by the provider to stop taking the diuretic during the acute episode.

Expectations (prognosis):

Often the infection is mild and self-limited. Prognosis is excellent except among malnourished and immunocompromised children.

Complications:

Severe dehydration
Neurologic symptoms including seizures (in children)
Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure with anemia and clotting problems
Reiter's syndrome, which involves eye pain and redness, joint pain, and pain with urination

Calling your health care provider:

Call your provider if diarrhea does not improve, if blood is noted in the stool, or if dehydration seems to be developing.

Go to the emergency room if seizures occur, or if confusion, lethargy, headache with stiff neck, or similar symptoms develop in a person with shigella enteritis (most common in children).