Types of Dysentery and How to Prevent Them in Biology
Diarrhoea with blood, pus, or mucus, generally accompanied by stomach discomfort, is known as dysentery. It normally lasts between three and seven days. Dysentery is a gastrointestinal illness that results in bloody diarrhoea. Dysentery is caused by parasites or bacteria. Poor hygiene is the most common cause of dysentery. For example, if a person with dysentery does not wash their hands after using the restroom, everything they touch is potentially infected. The virus can also be spread by ingesting faeces-infected food or drinking contaminated water. Hand cleaning and sanitation are important in preventing dysentery and preventing it from spreading.
The article deals with the explanation of what is dysentery, dysentery is caused by which pathogen, dysentery symptoms, and the dysentery treatment.
Types of Dysentery
Dysentery may be divided into two categories. Amoebic dysentery, also known as intestinal amoebiasis, is caused by a single-celled, tiny parasite that lives in the large intestine. Bacillary dysentery, the second form, is caused by invasive bacteria. Both types of dysentery are more common in hotter climates. Dysentery is caused by transmitting the parasite or bacterium that causes dysentery via water and food tainted by infectious human faeces, poor hygiene, and sanitation increase the risk of dysentery. Infection with bacteria causing dysentery Shigella, Campylobacter, Salmonella, or enterohemorrhagic E. coli causes bacterial dysentery. Shigellosis is the name for Shigella diarrhoea. The most frequent kind of dysentery is shigellosis. A single-celled parasite attacks the intestines and causes amoebic dysentery. Amoebiasis is another name for it. In the developed world, amoebic dysentery is less prevalent. It's most commonly encountered in tropical areas with poor sanitation. The majority of instances of amoebic dysentery in the United States occur in persons who have travelled to a region where it is widespread.
Causes of Dysentery
As we have seen dysentery is caused by both bacteria and amoeba, let us look into the main causes of dysentery in human beings. Dysentery can be caused by a variety of factors. By far the most prevalent cause of dysentery is bacterial infections. Let us summarise the causes of dysentery in the following points.
Ingestion of contaminated food
Ingestion of contaminated water and drinks
Unhygienic conditions include poor hand washing techniques by an infected individual
Swimming in contaminated water
Physical contact with the infected person
Dysentery Symptoms
Now that we have understood what is dysentery, the types of dysentery, and the causes of it, let us look into some of the common symptoms of the disease. Symptoms might appear one to three days after being infected. Symptoms may take more time to occur in some individuals. The symptoms of each form of dysentery are slightly different. Dysentery is characterized by regular, near-liquid diarrhoea flecked with blood, mucus, or pus. As there is the presence of blood in stool, it is often known as blood dysentery. Other signs and symptoms include:
Diarrhoea with cramps
Fever
Nausea and vomiting
Blood or mucus in the diarrhoea (specifically in blood dysentery)
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Headache
Fatigue
Dehydration
Flatulence
Symptoms of bacillary dysentery appear 2 to 10 days after infection. Fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea are common symptoms in youngsters. With blood, mucus, and pus in the child's stool, diarrhoea can last up to an hour. If not addressed, vomiting and diarrhoea can cause quick and severe dehydration, which can lead to life-threatening complications. Dry lips, sunken eyes, and poor skin tone are all signs of dehydration. Children and newborns will be thirsty, agitated, and even sluggish. Children may be unable to shed tears or generate urine, if urine is produced it appears dark and concentrated.
People who have amoebic dysentery may also have additional amoebic dysentery symptoms. The most common consequence is an amoebic abscess, which occurs when parasites travel to the liver. The patient would have a high temperature, weight loss, and right shoulder or upper abdomen pain in this situation. If the bowel infection is particularly severe, intestinal ulcers might lead to bowel perforation and death. The parasites can travel via circulation and infect the lungs, brain, and other organs in rare cases.
Dysentery Complications
Since we have learned what is dysentery, bacteria causes dysentery, and what are dysentery symptoms, now let us look into the common complications of the disease. It is important to keep in mind that one of the common symptoms, dehydration is also regarded as a complication of the disease. In case of diarrhoea, it's important to drink enough water. Other dysentery problems that are linked to dehydration include:
Potassium deficiency, which can lead to life-threatening cardiac rhythm alterations
Seizures
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome is a kind of haemolytic uraemia, a type of kidney damage.
Toxic megacolon
Rectal prolapse
Dysentery Treatment
Let us see the common approach towards the dysentery treatment or the common drugs that are provided as dysentery medicine. Rest and plenty of fluids are typically all that is required to cure mild shigellosis. The majority of people who have bacillary dysentery do not require prescription medication. Within a week, the infection normally goes away on its own. Antiparasitic drugs such as metronidazole, paromomycin, and iodoquinol are routinely used in amoebic dysentery treatment. Bacillary dysentery is sometimes treated with medicines such as ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, or azithromycin. Bismuth subsalicylate is used as a preventive measure. Furthermore, loperamide, an antidiarrheal medicine, is used to slow the bowel and avoid dehydration. It's critical to replenish the fluids lost due to diarrhoea. Soft drinks, juices, and bottled water will suffice in moderate situations. Electrolyte-based solutions, such as potassium, salt, and sucrose, should be used to treat more severe diarrhoea. Commercial oral rehydration treatments are generally required for severe diarrhoea.
Thus, we have discussed what is dysentery, what is blood dysentery, bacteria cause dysentery above. We have also learned about the dysentery symptoms and dysentery medicine used as a part of the dysentery treatment.
FAQs on What Is Dysentery? Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
1. What exactly is dysentery and what makes it different from regular diarrhoea?
Dysentery is a severe intestinal infection that causes inflammation of the colon. The main difference from common diarrhoea is that dysentery involves passing stool that contains blood and mucus. It is also typically accompanied by more intense symptoms like high fever and severe stomach cramps.
2. What are the main symptoms that point towards a dysentery infection?
The primary symptoms of dysentery are quite distinct and help in its identification. A student should look for a combination of the following:
- Painful stomach cramps
- Severe diarrhoea containing blood and/or mucus
- Fever and chills
- Nausea and sometimes vomiting
- A general feeling of being unwell
3. What are the two main types of dysentery and what causes them?
Dysentery is broadly classified into two types based on its cause:
- Bacillary Dysentery: This is the most common form and is caused by bacteria, most often from the Shigella genus.
- Amoebic Dysentery (Amoebiasis): This type is caused by a single-celled parasite called Entamoeba histolytica, which infects the large intestine.
4. Why does dysentery cause blood and mucus in the stool?
The pathogens that cause dysentery, like Shigella bacteria or Entamoeba histolytica, invade the lining of the large intestine. This invasion damages the intestinal wall, causing inflammation and small ulcers. These ulcers bleed and the inflamed tissue produces excess mucus, both of which then get mixed with the faeces.
5. How does maintaining personal hygiene help prevent the spread of dysentery?
Dysentery spreads through the faecal-oral route, meaning the germs from an infected person's stool make their way into another person's mouth. This often happens via contaminated hands, food, or water. Thorough handwashing with soap breaks this cycle by removing the germs. Similarly, ensuring clean drinking water and properly cooked food prevents ingestion of the pathogens.
6. How can a doctor confirm if someone has dysentery?
To confirm a diagnosis of dysentery, a doctor will typically request a stool sample analysis. In the lab, the sample is examined under a microscope to detect parasites like Entamoeba histolytica or cultured to grow and identify bacteria like Shigella. This helps confirm the infection and determine the correct treatment.
7. What are the potential health complications if dysentery is left untreated?
If not treated, dysentery can lead to serious complications. The most immediate danger is severe dehydration from fluid loss. Other long-term risks include post-infectious arthritis and, in the case of amoebic dysentery, the parasite can travel to the liver and cause a life-threatening liver abscess.
