Dysentery
Dysentery is an illness involving severe
diarrhea that is often associated with
blood in the
feces. It is caused by ingestion of food containing microorganisms, causing a disease in which inflammation of the intestines affect the body significantly. There are two major types:
shigellosis, which is caused by one of several types of
Shigella bacteria; and
amoebic dysentery, which is caused by the
amoeba Entamoeba histolytica.
Shiga discovered the
dysentery bacteria in
1898.
Shigellosis
A patient with shigellosis will often recover without
antibiotic treatment. However, treatment by antibiotics is usually recommended because the disease is relatively severe, and it is highly contagious. It can be transmitted by "
fomites", for example clothes, doorknobs, toilet seats, etc. The antibiotics
norfloxacin,
ampicillin and
co-trimoxazole may be used. Hospitalization may be required if the disease becomes serious.
See
shigellosis for more information.
Amoebic dysentery
Amoebic dysentery is transmitted by contaminated
water, and is well known as a "travelers dysentery" because of its prevalence in developing nations, or "
Montezuma's Revenge" (particularly in
Mexico), although it is occasionally seen in industrialized countries.
Liver infection, and subsequent amoebic abscesses can occur. It can be treated with
metronidazole or related
azole drugs.
The main symptom of
epidemic dysentery is bloody diarrhea. Other common symptoms include abdominal cramps, fever and rectal pain. Less frequent complications can include a form of blood poisoning known as
sepsis, seizure and
kidney failure.
Tiny organisms are spread through contaminated food and water when either is swallowed. From ingestion, they move into the intestines via the stomach. Amoebae spread by forming infective cysts which can be found in stools and spread if whoever touches it does not wash their hands. There are also free amoebae, or "trophozoites", that do not form cysts. Symptoms are most likely to appear in places with poor hygeine.
In adults, dysentery caused by bacteria usually subsides spontaneously. But in children, and other vulnerable groups, the condition can be treated with antibiotics. However,
Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (Sd1) has, in recent years, become increasingly resistant to drug treatments. Among people who have become dehydrated as a result of the disease, the key is to replenish their fluid stocks as quickly as possible. This can be done using oral rehydration salts or intravenous fluids. Amoebic dysentery is usually treated with a combination of drugs. These include an amoebicide to kill the
parasite, an
antibiotic to treat any associated bacterial
infection, and a drug to combat infection of the
liver and other tissues.
Dysentery was the cause of death of:
*
Liu Bei, first emperor of the
kingdom Shu Han (223).
*King
John of England (1216)
*King
Louis IX of France (1270)
*King
Henry V of England (1422)
*
Sir Francis Drake (1596).
*
Juana Maria, "The Lost Woman of San Nicolas" (1853).
*
Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled China until 1908.
*many victims of
concentration camps in
World War II. Some Allied POW's also fell victim to Dysentery at the hands of the
Japanese Empire, especially those involved in the construction of what has become known as the
Death Railway.
