Dysentery - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

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Dysentery is a condition characterized by blood in the stools due to infection. It can be caused by a number of organisms. This includes amoebic dysentery which is most common followed by other organisms including shigella, salmonella, E. Coli etc. In amoebic dysentery the stool is green in colour, semi solid, foul smelling with mucus in the stools. The child complains of cramps in the stomach. The colour of blood is generally dark red and the blood is mixed with the stool. The child generally has fever. In shigellosis or salmonella or other bacterial infections the child is toxic looking with high grade fever. The stool colour is dark green and the stool is watery with mucus.  Large quantities of stool are passed and the child quickly becomes dehydrated and toxic. Septicemia may develop too. Vomiting can occur too.



Dysentery is different from diarrhea and needs urgent care. According to Dr Mubina Agboatwalla a child specialist in Karachi, antibiotics need to be administered. In some cases oral and in severe cases intravenous antibiotics need to be given. The child may also need to be hospitalized.  Investigations like stool D/R and stool culture are a must. The child generally recovers in 48 hours once treatment is initiated.

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