Shigella/Enteroinvasive E. coli - Information for Patients
What kind of infection is it?
Shigella is a bacterial infection.
How do people get infected?
- Shigella and enteroinvasive E. coli are very similar types of bacteria that cause intestinal infections.
- Shigella is extremely contagious. Exposure to a very small amount can cause illness.
- Shigella only lives in the intestines of people. People become infected by coming into contact with the stool (poop) of someone with diarrhea due to Shigella. This can be through getting Shigella on your hands and touching your mouth or food after touching a contaminated surface (diapers, changing tables, bathroom fixtures).
- Shigella can remain in the intestine for several weeks after symptoms improve, allowing the infection to continue to be passed even if the person is no longer feeling ill.
- Shigella spreads very easily between people, especially younger children and in child care centers. Food can also become contaminated. People can become ill by swallowing lake water contaminated with Shigella.
What are the usual symptoms?
- Illness usually starts 1-3 days after exposure.
- Diarrhea, sometimes with blood, stomach pain or cramps, and fever.
How long does it last?
- Typically 2-7 days without treatment.
How is it treated?
- Prevent dehydration by drinking fluids. Most people will recover without treatment. Warning signs of dehydration include dry mouth, decreased urination, or dizziness.
- Anti-diarrheal drugs that slow the gut down such as loperamide (Immodium) or diphenoxylate with atropine (Lomotil) should not be used for children with Shigella.
- Certain antibiotics can shorten the duration of illness but are not always necessary. Antibiotics may decrease the likelihood of spreading Shigella.
- Some Shigella are resistant to the antibiotics usually used to treat this infection.
Are there possible complications?
- People infected with Shigella may develop pain in their joints, which is called post-infectious arthritis. They may also experience red eyes and painful urination.
- Very rarely, Shigella can cause a blood stream infection. This usually occurs in people with severely weakened immune systems.
- A rare complication of Shigella that only occurs with certain stains of Shigella is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a serious illness with destruction of red blood cells, kidney injury and low platelets (a type of blood cell that controls bleeding).
Comments:
- People with Shigella can be infectious for up to 2 weeks after the illness starts.
- Wash hands carefully after using the bathroom, changing diapers and before and after cooking.
- Avoid swimming pools or water parks until fully recovered.
- People with diarrhea should not prepare food.
- Children with Shigella should not return to day care until cleared by the local health department.