Diarrhea weakens the body, and it may be accompanied by mucus or blood, a condition known as dysentery. If not treated properly, dysentery can lead to complications that not only affect the digestive system but other organs as well.

What is dysentery?

Dysentery is an infection of the intestines that leads to severe diarrhea with blood and mucus. It can spread through contact with food or water contaminated with feces, making this disease common in areas with poor sanitation.

This condition typically improves within 3–7 days. However, without proper treatment, dysentery can lead to dehydration and liver abscesses. In young children, dehydration from dysentery can be life-threatening. Therefore, timely and appropriate treatment is crucial.

Causes and risk factors of dysentery

The causes of dysentery can generally be divided into two categories:

1. Bacillary dysentery

This is the most common type of dysentery, which is caused by bacteria. Some of the bacteria responsible for dysentery include Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Shigella bacteria can be spread by consuming contaminated food or water or by coming into direct contact with the feces of someone with dysentery. This bacteria can spread through activities such as:

• Changing the diaper of someone with dysentery
• Engaging in oral-anal or anal sex
• Touching surfaces contaminated with bacteria and then touching your mouth
• Not washing hands after using the restroom
• Swallowing river water while swimming or playing outdoors

Shigella bacteria can survive in a person's feces for 1-2 weeks after they no longer have symptoms. This bacteria can spread in crowded public facilities, including daycare centers.

2. Amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis)

Amoebic dysentery is caused by parasites. The most common parasites causing dysentery are Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica), Balantidium coli (B. coli), and Strongyloidiasis. These parasites can spread when someone ingests food or drinks water contaminated with feces containing Entamoeba eggs.

Amoebic dysentery parasites can spread through:

• Engaging in anal or oral-anal sex
• Putting objects exposed to the parasite into your mouth
• Consuming contaminated food or water
• Touching surfaces contaminated with infected feces or parasite eggs and then touching your mouth

The groups most at risk for severe amoebic dysentery are:

• Pregnant or postpartum women
• Newborns
• People taking corticosteroids
• Malnourished individuals
• Cancer patients

Symptoms of dysentery

Symptoms of dysentery typically appear 1-3 days after exposure to bacteria or parasites. Some people experience no symptoms, while others may experience a variety of symptoms, depending on the cause.

Symptoms of bacillary dysentery

symptoms of bacillary dysentery include:

• Diarrhea with abdominal cramps
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blood or mucus in the stool

Symptoms of amoebic dysentery

Amoebic dysentery typically does not produce symptoms. However, when it does, you may experience symptoms 2-4 weeks after the infection. Some symptoms are:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps
• Weight loss
• Fever

In rare cases, amoebic dysentery causes more serious complications, such as liver abscesses, which are collections of pus in the liver. This condition is characterized by:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Pain in the upper right abdomen
• Weight loss
• Swollen liver

Dysentery is a digestive problem characterized by bloody or mucous diarrhea. If not properly treated, this condition can lead to dehydration. If you live in a poor sanitation area and develop dysentery symptoms, see a doctor right away.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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