infections
Shigellosis
Symptoms of Shigellosis
Mild infections cause low-grade fever (about 100.4 to 102°F [38 to 38.9°C]) and watery diarrhea 1 to 4 days after people ingest the bacteria. Some adults do not have a fever. Mild infections in adults usually resolve in 4 to 8 days. Inadults,the first symptoms may be painful abdominal cramps and a frequent urge to defecate. Passing stool may temporarily relieve the pain. These symptoms may become more severe and occur more frequently as the infection progresses. Severe infections may cause low-grade or moderate fever and watery diarrhea that progresses to dysentery. In dysentery, bowel movements are frequent and contain blood, pus, and mucus. Severe infections usually resolve in 3 to 6 weeks. Inyoung children,symptoms begin suddenly. Symptoms include fever, irritability or drowsiness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Children may frequently feel an urgent need to defecate. Within 3 days, blood, pus, and mucus appear in stool. Unless complications develop, symptoms usually resolve by the second week. Children, particularly young children, are most likely to have severe complications: High fever (up to 106° F [41°C]), sometimes with delirium, seizures, or coma Severe dehydration with weight loss 20 or more bowel movements a day With severe diarrhea, protrusion of part of the rectum out of the body (rectal prolapse) Rarely, marked swelling of the intestine and tearing (perforation) of the large intestine Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (HUS) if the infection is due to Severe dehydration can lead to Shock and death, mainly in children under 2 years, in chronically ill, malnourished, or debilitated adults, and in older people. In hemolytic-uremic syndrome, red blood cells are destroyed, causing anemia with fatigue, weakness, and light-headedness. Blood clots abnormally, causing the kidneys to stop functioning. Seizures or strokes can also occur. Some adults develop Reactive Arthritis (inflammation of the joints). Inflammation of the eyes ( 