Drugs, Causes, Symptoms, etc.

Definition of dysentery

Dysentery is an infectious disease of the intestine that causes diarrhea accompanied by blood or mucus. Diarrhea itself is usually characterized by frequent loose or runny bowel movements.

Based on the cause, digestive disorders are divided into two types, including:

Bacillary dysentery (shigellosis) due to bacterial infection Shigella, and
Amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis) due to bacterial infection Entamoeba histolytica.

Amoeba and bacteria that cause dysentery can move through direct contact with bacteria in feces. The spread of both can also occur through contaminated food and drink, or water that is exposed to bacteria.

This disease is very contagious. If not treated promptly, this intestinal inflammation can lead to severe, life-threatening dehydration.

How common is dysentery?

Dysentery is a common digestive disorder, but tends to occur in children. Reporting from WHO, it is estimated that there are 165 million cases of diarrhea caused by shigella bacteria that occur each year globally.

The disease that causes severe diarrhea is also more common in developing countries with a percentage of 99 percent. This may be due to limited sanitation facilities and adequate clean water.

You can overcome this indigestion by reducing risk factors. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms of dysentery

Symptoms of dysentery can appear on a scale from mild to severe. In addition, most symptoms also depend on the degree of spread of the bacterial infection.

For example, the symptoms of dysentery in developed countries tend to be milder than in developing countries or in the tropics. Conditions that can characterize dysentery include:

Generally, the symptoms above will appear 1-2 days after you are infected. This disease can also last for 5 – 7 days.

In children and the elderly, diarrhea can be a serious symptom and requires hospitalization. Meanwhile, some people may not experience severe symptoms, but they can still pass the bacteria on to others.

There may be signs and symptoms of dysentery not listed above. If you have concerns about experiencing certain symptoms of dysentery, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor immediately.

When to see a doctor?

Immediately contact your doctor for medical attention if you experience symptoms such as:

often have bloody bowel movements,
feel pain when defecating,
fever with a body temperature of up to 40º C,
weight loss, and
symptoms of dehydration appear, such as feeling thirsty and a pounding heart.

Causes and risk factors

What causes dysentery?

The causes of dysentery are divided into two types, namely bacteria and amoeba. Here is the explanation.

Dysentery due to bacterial infection (bacillary dysentery)

One of the causes of dysentery is a bacterial infection that attacks the digestive system. These infections include various types of bacteria, including:

These four types of bacteria can be found in the feces of an infected person and are spread in many ways, namely:

not washing hands after defecating,
consumption of contaminated food and drink,
holding objects or body parts exposed to bacteria, as well
swimming in contaminated water, both lakes and swimming pools.

This disease that causes diarrhea is more common in child care centers, nursing homes, schools, and places with large numbers of people and poor sanitation.

Amoebic dysentery

Apart from bacteria, amoebae can also cause a person to experience dysentery. The type of amoeba that is the mastermind behind this disease is Entamoeba histolytica which can be found in tropical countries.

When the amoeba in the patient’s intestine is ready to leave the body, they will gather and form a shell. This is to protect the amoeba and is known as a cyst.

The cysts that come out of the stool can survive outside the body. That is why, when sanitation is inadequate and feces are disposed of carelessly, amoeba will pollute the surrounding environment, including water.

When other people eat and drink contaminated with amoeba, the animal will enter the body of another person. This makes amoebic dysentery quite common in countries where human waste is used as fertilizer.

Apart from food and drink, amoeba can also be spread sexually, especially through mouth-to-anus contact.

What increases the risk of developing dysentery?

There are many factors that can increase the risk of developing dysentery, including:

toddlers, especially those aged 2-4 years,
live in densely populated settlements or participate in residents’ activities,
living or traveling to areas with poor sanitation, as well
men who have sex with other men.

Dysentery complications

If not treated immediately, dysentery can cause a number of serious complications. Here are some complications that you need to be aware of.

Dehydration

One of the most common complications of dysentery is dehydration. Dehydration due to prolonged diarrhea can cause the body to lose the fluids it needs.

This one complication is quite dangerous, especially in children and the elderly. Immediately consult a doctor if you or your child has symptoms of dehydration.

Abscess

In addition to dehydration, dysentery that is not treated properly can also cause abscesses, both asbestos in the liver, lungs, and heart.

The reason is, amoebic infection can spread to these organs, so it is necessary to get immediate treatment.

Seizures

Children are most susceptible to seizures due to complications from dysentery.

Until now it is not certain why children can experience this one complication. However, seizures due to dysentery will generally disappear without treatment.

Other complications

The three conditions above are the most common complications due to dysentery. However, there are various other conditions that can arise as a result of not getting the right treatment, such as:

Diagnosis of dysentery

How is dysentery diagnosed?

If you or your child has the features of dysentery that have been mentioned, immediately consult a doctor. The reason is, there are many diseases characterized by fever and bloody bowel movements.

Therefore, laboratory tests are the most appropriate way to diagnose this condition.

In addition to a physical exam and asking questions about your symptoms and medical history, you may also undergo a number of tests, including:

How to treat dysentery?

Generally, dysentery with mild symptoms will resolve on its own without special treatment. However, you still have to replace the body fluids lost due to severe diarrhea.

It is important to understand that everyone needs different treatment based on the severity of symptoms. Some people may receive hospital care, while others need to be treated at home.

Here are some dysentery treatment options that are commonly recommended by doctors.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are one of the most effective ways to treat dysentery. Doctors will usually prescribe antibiotics to fight the bacteria that cause dysentery.

Some of the most commonly used antibiotics include:

Antibiotic function will work when the amount of drug in the body is maintained at a consistent level. You still have to continue the antibiotics until they run out even though the dysentery symptoms have disappeared after a few days.

Tell your doctor if your symptoms persist or get worse. Please consult a doctor for more information.

Drink lots of water and ORS

In addition to antibiotics, your doctor will also recommend that you drink plenty of water to replace fluids lost due to diarrhea. This condition can lead to dehydration if left unchecked.

Not only drinking ORS, you can also increase the required body fluids and salt intake with ORS solution. ORS solution is usually given to children.

Even so, keep in mind that ORS cannot cure dysentery. ORS can only help prevent or treat patients experiencing dehydration.

If you have a baby under 6 months of age, continue to provide exclusive breastfeeding to prevent diarrhea from getting worse. The content of breast milk can inhibit the growth of germs that cause diarrhea.

Take it to the hospital

For children and parents who are severely dehydrated require treatment in the hospital emergency room. This is so they can receive salt and fluids through an IV, rather than by mouth.

Intravenous hydration delivers water and essential nutrients to the body faster than oral fluids.

Home remedies

In addition to getting treatment from a doctor, you also need to change your lifestyle to be cleaner and healthier so that you can quickly recover from dysentery.

Tips for changing your lifestyle when you have dysentery include the following.

Get more rest.
Take medication according to doctor’s orders.
Clean the baby’s diaper changing area with a disinfectant.
Dispose of diapers in a closed trash can.
Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water.
Not preparing food while infected.
Keep food, drinks and cutlery clean.
Eat foods that are easy to digest, high in protein, and low in fiber.
Avoid drinking milk and other dairy products that are not pasteurized.
Drink lots of water.
Cut down on foods that are too spicy, sour, oily, and undercooked.

If you have further questions, consult your doctor to find the right solution.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Ferri, Fred. Ferri’s Netter Patient Advisor. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders / Elsevier, 2012. Print version. Page 143.

Dehydration – diagnosis & treatment. (2016). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 12 June 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/basics/treatment/con-20030056

Thomas, L. (2019). What is dysentery? News Medical. Retrieved 15 January 2021, from https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Dysentery.aspx

Williams, P., Berkley, JA (2016). Dysentery (Shigellosis): Current WHO Guidelines and the WHO Essential Medicine for Children. World Health Organization [PDF File]. Retrieved 15 January 2021, from https://www.who.int/selection_medicines/committees/expert/21/applications/s6_paed_antibiotics_appendix5_dysentery.pdf

Chapter 5.4 Dysentery. (2016). Hospital Care for Children. Retrieved 15 January 2021, from http://www.ichrc.org/chapter-54-dysentery