Dysentery Dr Rob Hicks Dysentery is a highly contagious bacterial infection, which is spread by poor hygiene.

In this article

What causes it? What are the symptoms?

Who's affected? How can it be prevented?

What's the treatment?

Dysentery is an infection of the gut caused by a bacterium called shigella. Shigella sonnei is most often responsible for outbreaks in the UK. S. flexneri, S. boydii and S. dysenteriae are also causes.

Dysentery is usually spread by hand-to-mouth transfer from person-to-person or from surfaces that have been contaminated by an infected person.

Symptoms usually appear between six hours and three days after infection. They can include:

• Watery diarrhoea, sometimes with blood and mucus
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• General malaise

Outbreaks of dysentery are more likely in overcrowded areas and where poor hygiene practices exist.

It occurs in all parts of the world and affects people of all ages. Schools and nurseries are particularly at risk.

To reduce the risk of contracting dysentery:

• Wash your hands after using the toilet, after contact with an infected person and regularly throughout the day
• Wash your hands before handling, cooking and eating food, handling babies and feeding young or elderly people
• Keep contact with someone known to have dysentery to a minimum
• Wash laundry on the hottest setting possible
• Avoid sharing items such as towels and face cloths

In general, rest and drinking plenty of fluids are all the treatment that's necessary. A person shouldn't return to school or work until they've been symptom free for 48 hours.

Sometimes antibiotic treatment or admission to hospital for intravenous therapy is required.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in January 2008