About this topic
Shigellosis is an infection caused by a germ. It infects the belly and releases a toxin. This causes swelling and ulcers in the walls of the belly and bowels. Then, it causes stomach pain and loose stools. This common infection happens most often in the warmer months. ‚
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Make sure to take all the drugs ordered by your doctor.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids each day to prevent fluid loss.
- Wash your hands often. Make sure to wash them before and after using the bathroom and before eating.
- Do not take any drugs to decrease loose stools.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Fight an infection
- Lower fever
- Ease pain
- Replace body fluids
Will physical activity be limited?
You may feel weak because you lose lots of fluid. Get plenty of rest. Sleep when you are feeling tired. Avoid doing tiring activities. Ask your doctor about what activities are best for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Stay away from caffeine and foods that are greasy, high in fiber, or sweet.
- Eat soft, bland foods like bananas, plain rice, boiled potatoes, toast, crackers, cooked carrots, and baked chicken without the skin or fat.
- Eat small meals every few hours instead of 3 big meals.
What problems could happen?
- Seizures
- Very bad fluid loss
- Infection
- Problems with your bowels like bleeding or they stop working
- Liver or kidney problems
- Arthritis
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Be careful when swimming.
- Avoid swallowing water while swimming, boating, or doing recreational water activities.
- Protect others by not swimming when you or your child has loose stools. Do not swim for at least 2 weeks after loose stools stop.
- Change diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside.
- Be careful when eating.
- Choose foods that are freshly cooked and served very hot.
- Do not eat food from street vendors.
- Do not eat raw vegetables or fruits. Be careful when eating salads as the produce may have been washed with tap water.
- Eat fruits and vegetables that are peeled or cooked.
- If you suspect that your drinking water may be contaminated, let it boil at more than 140 ‚ °F (60 ‚ °C) for at least 30 minutes.
- Keep flies away from your food. Place screens on the windows and doors of your house.
- Follow good hygiene habits.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work to kill germs. This is especially important:
- After using the bathroom or changing diapers
- Before eating
- Before cooking
- After working in dirt
- Keep sick children away from daycare. This will prevent spreading the infection to others.
- Wear a condom when having anal sex.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of fluid loss. These include dark-colored urine or no urine for more than 8 hours, dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, sunken eyes, lack of energy, feeling faint, or passing out.
- Loose stools for more than 2 days
- Very bad pain in the belly
- High fever
- Bloody stool
- Problems eating or too much throwing up
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Changes in behavior
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how and when to wash my hands to avoid passing the infection to others.
- I can tell you how I will take extra care when swimming, eating, and with my hygiene.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have belly pain, bloody stools, throwing up, or seizures.
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/shigella/index.html ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/shigella.html ‚
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ‚
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/shigellosis/pages/shigellosis.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚