If you have belly pain and bleeding when you go to the bathroom, it could be dysentery. Here is how to spot the signs and get safe relief quickly!

Have you ever had a terrible stomach ache with loose watery stools that contained blood or mucus? It can be a scary experience for anyone, especially if it happens to your child. This condition is known as dysentery. Let us explore what dysentery is, what causes it, and how you can protect your family.

Dysentery is an infection of your digestive tract that causes severe diarrhea. Unlike regular mild diarrhea, dysentery involves inflammation of your intestines. This causes blood, mucus, or pus to pass along with your stool. Knowing the warning signs can help you get the right medical care quickly.

What Is Dysentery?

Simply put, dysentery is an infection that targets your digestive system. It causes severe diarrhea. However, it is not just normal diarrhea. When you have dysentery, your bowel movements often contain blood or mucus. This makes it a very painful and exhausting condition.

There are two main types of dysentery that doctors look for. Understanding these two types helps your doctor choose the right medicine to make you feel better fast.

Amoebic Dysentery.

This type happens because of a tiny parasite called Entamoeba histolytica. When this parasite enters your body, it causes an infection in your gut. Doctors sometimes call this condition amebiasis. Besides this specific parasite, other organisms like Balantidium coli and Strongyloides can also cause amoebic dysentery.

Bacillary Dysentery.

This type happens due to a bacterial infection rather than a parasite. The bacteria responsible for this form are quite common in unclean environments. The most frequent bacterial culprits include Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Out of the two types, bacillary dysentery is seen much more often around the world.

The most important thing to remember is that untreated dysentery can become life-threatening. If you notice these symptoms, you should speak with a doctor right away.

Who Is Most at Risk for Dysentery?

Anyone can get dysentery if they are exposed to the germs. However, the risk is much higher in areas with poor water sanitation and warm tropical climates. Water sanitation means the systems used to clean and treat drinking water. When these systems fail or do not exist, the risk shoots up.

Your personal hygiene habits also play a big role. If you do not wash your hands properly, you can easily pick up and spread germs. Imagine going to the bathroom and failing to wash your hands with soap afterward. You can easily transfer germs to food, water, or surfaces that other people touch.

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How Common Is Dysentery?

Dysentery is a very common global health issue. According to World Health Organization reports, there are about 1.7 billion cases of dysentery around the world every year. This means it affects far more people than many realize.

What Are the Symptoms of Dysentery?

Your symptoms can vary depending on which type of dysentery you have. Let us look at what each type feels like.

Amoebic Dysentery Symptoms.

Interestingly, many people infected with amoebic dysentery show no symptoms at all. That can make it tricky to spot. However, some people do experience mild symptoms, which can include:

• Watery diarrhea.
• Mild fever.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Unintended weight loss.
• Stomach upset and bloating.

In rare cases, the parasite can travel to other parts of your body, such as your liver, and form an abscess or pocket of pus.

Bacillary Dysentery Symptoms.

Bacillary dysentery usually brings much clearer and more uncomfortable signs. Common symptoms include:

• Bloody or mucus-filled diarrhea, which is the main warning sign.
• High fever.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Severe stomach cramps and abdominal pain.

If you have a severe case of dysentery, it can lead to dangerous complications. These include severe inflammation of the large intestine, widening of the colon, and acute kidney disease.

Can Dysentery Be Fatal?

Yes, untreated dysentery can be fatal. Certain groups of people face a much higher risk of severe complications:

• Young children under five years old.
• Adults over fifty years old.
• People suffering from dehydration or malnutrition.

These vulnerable groups need prompt medical attention if they show signs of an intestinal infection.

What Causes Dysentery and How Does It Spread?

The parasites and bacteria that cause dysentery spread very easily. Simply put, germs from an infected person's stool find their way into another person's mouth. This can happen through:

• Handling food with unwashed or dirty hands.
• Drinking unclean water contaminated with sewage.
• Sexual contact involving oral-anal transmission.

Bacillary dysentery happens when foreign bacteria enter your body and cause an infection. The main bacterial groups include Shigella (which causes shigellosis), Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli. Amoebic dysentery happens when parasites like Entamoeba histolytica enter your digestive tract.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Dysentery?

Your doctor will review your symptoms, perform a physical examination, and order diagnostic tests to confirm dysentery.

What Tests Are Used?

If your doctor suspects dysentery, they will usually ask for a stool sample test. The process is straightforward. Your doctor will give you a special container and a small spoon. When you use the bathroom next, you collect a small sample using the container or a clean surface and place it in the vial.

The lab checks the sample for bacteria, parasites, or parasite eggs. Sometimes, your doctor might ask for multiple stool samples over a few days to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Your doctor may also suggest a sigmoidoscopy. This test helps confirm the diagnosis or rule out other causes. During a sigmoidoscopy, a doctor uses a thin, lighted tube with a camera to examine your rectum and the lower part of your large intestine.

How Do Doctors Treat Dysentery?

If you have amoebic dysentery, the main goal is to clear the parasite from your body. Your doctor will likely prescribe an antiparasitic medicine such as metronidazole. They may also suggest antibiotics or anti-nausea medicines if needed.

If you have bacillary dysentery, many people start to feel better within a week without specific treatment. However, if you need medical help, treatments may include antibiotics and intravenous (IV) fluids to restore hydration. In rare cases, a blood transfusion may be necessary.

How Can You Care for Yourself at Home?

If you are managing mild symptoms at home, keep these tips in mind:

• Avoid anti-diarrheal medicines unless your doctor tells you to use them, as they can sometimes make infections worse.
• Drink plenty of clean fluids, water, oral rehydration solutions, or tender coconut water to prevent dehydration.
• Ask your doctor before taking over-the-counter pain relievers or fever reducers like ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen.
• Use medicines for nausea only if recommended by a doctor.

How Fast Will You Heal After Treatment?

If you had amoebic dysentery, most people start feeling better within 14 days. If you had bacillary dysentery, you should expect to recover fully within one week.

How Can You Prevent Dysentery?

The absolute best way to prevent dysentery is to practice good hygiene. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after using the bathroom, before cooking, and before eating. Here are extra steps you can take:

• Never share personal items like toothbrushes, drinking glasses, or towels.
• Avoid drinking water from sources you do not trust completely.
• Drink bottled water or use water purification tablets when traveling.
• Boil drinking water until it rolls into a vigorous boil for at least one minute.
• Stay away from people who have active dysentery infections.
• Wash all raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean running water, and peel them when possible.
• Ensure all meat and food items are cooked completely.

How to Stop Spreading Dysentery to Others.

If you currently have dysentery, follow these rules to protect people around you:

• Stay away from others while you have active diarrhea.
• Avoid sexual activity until you are fully recovered.
• Do not prepare food for other people.
• Stay out of public swimming pools, lakes, and oceans.
• Clean bathrooms, sinks, and door handles often with disinfectant.
• Wash your laundry in hot water (at least 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit).

What Happens If You Get Dysentery? Will You Recover?

With a proper diagnosis and treatment, people with amoebic dysentery recover well within two weeks. Without treatment, however, amoebic dysentery can become life-threatening.

For bacillary dysentery, most people recover within a week without treatment. However, severe complications can occur. If your symptoms last for more than a few days, you should schedule a visit with your doctor.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor.

When you visit your doctor, consider asking these helpful questions:

• "Doctor, how do we know for sure that I have dysentery?" .
• "Do I have amoebic dysentery or bacillary dysentery?" .
• "How much fluid should I drink each day to prevent dehydration?" .
• "What kinds of drinks are safest for me right now?" .
• "Are there specific foods I should avoid while recovering?" .
• "What medicines are you prescribing, and how long should I take them?" .

Dysentery vs. Cholera: What Is the Difference?

Both dysentery and cholera affect your digestive system. However, they are caused by different germs.

Dysentery involves parasites or bacteria like Shigella and E. coli that cause bloody diarrhea and intestinal inflammation. Cholera, on the other hand, is caused specifically by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera typically causes massive amounts of watery diarrhea rather than bloody stools.