Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.
Shigella is a group of bacteria that cause an acute diarrheal illness known as shigellosis. It is a highly contagious infection that invades and damages the lining of the intestines, leading to fever and often bloody diarrhea.
read more about shigella ...The cause of the infection is the ingestion of the Shigella bacteria, often through contaminated food, water, or contact with contaminated surfaces. The bacteria are transmitted through the fecal-oral route, and it takes only a very small amount of bacteria to cause severe illness, making it extremely contagious in crowded settings like daycares.
Symptoms define a severe gastrointestinal infection: watery diarrhea, often containing blood or mucus, intense abdominal cramps, fever, and nausea. The severe fluid loss leads to dehydration, and in rare cases, the infection can trigger Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which causes kidney failure, particularly in young children.
Diagnosis requires a stool sample test to confirm the presence of the Shigella bacteria. Treatment focuses on supportive care, primarily aggressive fluid replacement to counter severe dehydration. Antibiotics may be used in severe cases to shorten the duration of illness.
Shigella can impact eye health through a delayed autoimmune reaction called reactive arthritis (Reiter's syndrome). This condition can occur weeks after the initial infection has cleared, causing inflammation of the joints and sometimes the eyes (conjunctivitis or uveitis).
Strict hygiene and prevention are necessary due to the high contagiousness of the bacteria. Frequent, thorough handwashing is the most effective method of prevention, especially after using the bathroom and before handling food.
No, Shigella is a bacterial infection and may require antibiotics in severe cases.
HUS is a rare but serious complication of this infection, affecting primarily young children.
Management focuses on rest and aggressive rehydration to counter fluid loss.
Seek care if you have bloody diarrhea or a high fever. Shigella can trigger "Reactive Arthritis" (Reiter's Syndrome), which includes a classic triad of symptoms: arthritis, urethritis, and conjunctivitis ("can't see, can't pee, can't climb a tree"). Report red eyes during recovery to your doctor.
CDC. Shigella - Shigellosis (cdc.gov). 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Shigella Infection (mayoclinic.org). 2024.
WHO. Foodborne Diseases (who.int). 2023.
StatPearls. Reactive Arthritis (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). 2025.