Dysentery: Sign and Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention.

Dysentery

Dysentery:

Dysentery is a very common disorder that is caused by an infection of the human intestine. It also is known as bloody diarrhoea. Dysentery causes pain or irritation in the rectum accompanied by frequent loose stools or stools with mucus and blood. There are two types of dysentery: Bacterial dysentery caused by a microorganism called bacteria, such as Shigella or Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Amoebic (bacterial) dysentery which is called Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica).

Sign and symptoms of dysentery:

Dysentery is mostly caused by an unhealthy or unhygienic environment, especially in rural and urban slum areas. The disease is detected by sometimes constipation and watery stools with bowel cramps. The most common symptoms a person may experience are:

• Watery or loose stool or toilet. The appearance of mucus and blood in the stool or toilet.
• Feeling pain during defecating period. Fever.
• The urgency to pass stool.
• Feeling of incomplete emptying.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weight loss.
• Headache.
• Fatigue.
• Dehydration.
• Abdominal bloating.
• Abdominal cramps.
• Flatulence.
• Nausea with or without vomiting.
• Frequent defecating.

Dysentery is often confused with diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is caused by a toxin released from an infectious substance, and although the patient excretes loose stools in both cases, the diarrhoea does not contain mucus or blood. If left untreated, the disease can lead to ulcers in the colon, which in some cases can occur in the rectum.

Causes of dysentery:

A number of causes can cause dysentery. This disease can be caused by contaminated drinking water or contaminated food eating. Depending on the type of infection, dysentery can be of two types:

Bacterial dysentery: It can be caused by E. coli or four different species of Shigella bacteria. The most common causes of dysentery are bacterial infections. Shigella, Campylobacter, E. coli and Salmonella species of bacteria cause these type of infections. Each pathogen frequency varies significantly in different regions of the world. Chemical irritants or intestinal worms are rarely caused by dysentery. Shigella and Campylobacter bacteria are found all over the world that causes bacillary dysentery. They enter the lining of the intestine and causes swelling, ulcerations and severe diarrhoea containing blood and mucus.

Amoebic (bacterial) dysentery: It can be caused by E. histolytica.Entamoeba histolytica a protozoan parasite that causes intestinal amoebiasis. Amoeba can exist in the large bowel (colon) for long periods of time. Majority of cases amoebiasis causes no symptoms and only 10% of infected person becomes ill. It is common in developing countries in the world's tropical zones, where it is very prevalent. People can be infected after ingesting water or food contaminated with someone’s excreted parasites. Those who use contaminated water that is contaminated by parasite for their household uses are at high risk of acquiring the parasite through food and water. The parasites can also penetrate through the mouth when hands are washed in contaminated water. If people neglect to wash properly before preparing food, the Food may become contaminated, if people do not wash food properly before preparing. Fruits and vegetables can be contaminated if washed them in contaminated water or grown in soil fertilized by human waste.In the case of both types of disease, the infection spreads:

• By drinking contaminated water.
• Do not follow the clean and hygiene before eating.
• Eating food that is contaminated by dysentery germ.
• Having sex that involves anal contact can spread both amoebic and bacillary dysentery. This can be occurred when the sexual intercourse included direct anal-oral contact or oral contact with an object such as finger that touched or was in the anus of an infected person.

Diagnosis of dysentery:

Dysentery can be diagnosed through general laboratory tests such as stool examination and its microbial culture through the immunochromatographic dipstick. When blood is present in the stool then the diagnosis is done through endoscopy.For dysentery suspected person stool sample is required for analysis. Bacterial infections such as shigella are diagnosed by stool culture. In most developing countries stool culture test is not available and the diagnosis is done clinically on the basis of symptoms. Amoebiasis is often tested by finding parasites under a microscope. An antibody blood test can be done to confirm the diagnosis of amoebic dysentery.A harmless amoeba named Entamoeba dispar that looks identical to E. histolytica under the microscope. It produces no symptoms and does not need treatment. In developing countries, individuals found to have amoebae in their stools are whether treated or  not it is clear that the infection is causing symptoms. Those who diagnosed with amoebae in their stools 90% of them have the harmless E. dispar.

Treatment and Prevention of dysentery:

Metronidazole, paromomycin and iodoquinol are antiparasitic medications that are commonly used to treat dysentery caused amoebiasis. Ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin and azithromycin are antibiotics that are used to treat the bacillary dysentery causing organisms. Antibiotic is used to kill bacteria for bacterial dysentery. Antiprotozoal should be given to avoid protozoa infection. Generally, 5-8 days of treatment should be enough to control the symptoms. Prolonged use of antibiotics without a doctor's advice can reduce the effectiveness of the medication. Medications are less expensive and treatment is not as painful. Some self-care and preventative advice can help  to prevent the recurrence of the disease:

• Adhere to healthy eating habits.
• Wash hands before eating.
• Avoid defecating in the open.
• Drink boiling and cold water.