Do you also have stomach pain and bleeding? Let's learn about dysentery!

Do you sometimes have stomach pain and stools that contain blood or mucus? Or has your little one ever had this? This is something that many people talk about and it can be a bit scary. Today, let's talk about this condition called 'dysentery' in detail.

What is this dysentery?

Simply put, diarrhea is a disease that affects our digestive system . What happens in this is that the stomach becomes very loose. But it's not just the stomach getting loose, at this time things like blood or mucus can come out with the stool . Imagine how uncomfortable and annoying that is.

There are two main types of this diarrhea. Let's learn about them too.

Amoebic dysentery or Amoebiasis

This is mainly caused by a microscopic parasite called `(Entamoeba histolytica)`. To be precise, this disease occurs when this parasite enters our body. It is sometimes called `(Amoebiasis)`. This amoebic dysentery can also be caused by other parasites such as `(E. histolytica)` (`B. coli`) and `(Strongyloidiasis)`.

Bacillary dysentery

This is caused by a bacterial infection . It is not the parasites mentioned earlier, but the bacteria that are responsible for this. The most common bacteria that cause this condition are `(Shigella)`, `(Salmonella)`, `(Campylobacter)` and `(Escherichia coli)` (`E. coli`). Of these two types, this bacillary dysentery is the most common .

Most importantly, diarrhea can be fatal if not treated properly . So if you have these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.

Who is more likely to develop this diarrhea?

Actually, anyone can get diarrhea . However, it is more common in tropical countries with poor water sanitation , especially in hot climates. Water sanitation is the process of cleaning and killing germs in the water we drink. So the risk is higher where it is not done properly.

Also, if you don't take good care of your personal hygiene, you are more likely to get diarrhea. For example, if you don't wash your hands thoroughly with soap after using the toilet, you can unknowingly spread germs to food, water, or other surfaces you touch. This can easily spread the disease to others.

How common is this?

Diarrhea is a very common disease . According to the World Health Organization, there are about 1.7 billion cases of diarrhea worldwide each year . This means that it affects more people than we think, and it is something that is common.

What are the symptoms of this dysentery?

The symptoms of diarrhea can vary slightly depending on the type of diarrhea you have. Let's take a look at how that works.

Symptoms of Amoebic Dysentery

Most of the time, people with amoebic dysentery don't have any symptoms . That's a bit surprising, isn't it? However, some people may have mild symptoms. Here are some of the symptoms you might see:

• Diarrhea (stomach bloating)
• High fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss
• Feeling like an upset stomach, fullness in the stomach

Very rarely , the parasite can travel to other parts of the body, for example the liver, and cause an abscess . That is, a collection of pus.

Symptoms of Bacillary Dysentery

In bacillary dysentery, the symptoms are a little more obvious. These are the most common:

• Diarrhea with blood or mucus (this is the main and most obvious symptom)
• High fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe stomach pain (Abdominal pain)

If you have severe diarrhea , some complications can occur. For example, serious conditions such as severe inflammation of the colon, dilatation (enlargement) of the colon, and acute kidney disease can occur.

Can dysentery be fatal?

Yes, dysentery can be fatal if not treated properly . The following people are especially at risk:

• For young children (under 5 years old)
• For those over 50 years old
• For those with dehydration or malnutrition

Therefore, we need to be especially careful about these people.

What causes dysentery? How is it spread?

The parasitic and bacterial infections that cause diarrhea are highly contagious . Simply put, it is spread when germs (parasites or bacteria) in the feces of an infected person somehow end up in someone else's mouth. Imagine how unpleasant that would be! Here's how it's spread:

• From someone who doesn't wash their hands properly or prepares food in an unclean manner.
• Drinking dirty, contaminated water .
• Through sexual contact , especially oral-anal contact.

Bacillary dysentery occurs when a foreign bacteria enters the body from outside and the infection becomes severe. The most common types of bacteria that cause this are:

• `(Shigella)` (This causes the disease `(Shigellosis)`)
• `(Salmonella)` (This causes salmonella infection)
• `(Campylobacter)` (This causes `(Campylobacteriosis)`)
• `(Escherichia coli)` (`E. coli`) (This causes `E. coli` infection)

Amoebiasis occurs when a specific parasite enters the body, such as the previously mentioned Entamoeba histolytica.

How do doctors diagnose dysentery?

Your doctor is the only one who can tell you for sure whether you have diarrhea or not. He/she will ask you about your symptoms, do a physical exam, and then order any necessary tests.

What kind of tests are done?

If your doctor suspects that you have diarrhea, he or she will order a stool culture .

This is simple to do. The doctor will give you a special bottle and a disposable spoon. The next time you have a bowel movement, you should put a piece of plastic or newspaper over the toilet bowl and collect the stool. Or, you can defecate in a clean container, take a small sample with the spoon, put it in the special bottle, and bring it to the doctor.

The doctor then sends the sample to a lab, where they test your stool sample for bacteria, parasites, or parasite eggs (ova).

Sometimes, it may be necessary to provide stool samples over several days to make an accurate diagnosis.

Your doctor may also recommend a sigmoidoscopy . This test can confirm the diagnosis or rule out other causes of your symptoms. A sigmoidoscopy involves your doctor using a special camera-equipped tube (scope) to examine the inside of your lower colon (sigmoid colon) and rectum.

How to cure diarrhea quickly? What are the treatments?

If you have amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis), the most important thing is to get rid of the parasite from your body . To do this, your doctor will prescribe a medicine for parasitic infections, such as metronidazole (brand name Flagyl®). Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics and anti-nausea medications, such as bismuth subsalicylate (brand name Pepto-Bismol®).

If you have bacillary dysentery, most people will get better without treatment in a few days or a week . However, if you need medical help, treatment may include antibiotics and IV fluids, or saline. Very rarely, a blood transfusion may be needed.

How do I take care of myself?

When you have diarrhea, it's a good idea to do these things:

• Do not take antidiarrheal medications (such as `(Loperamide)` - `Imodium Advanced®`). These can make symptoms worse.
• Drink plenty of fluids like water, juice, and orange juice to prevent dehydration . Diarrhea causes the body to lose a lot of water.
• To reduce pain and fever, take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) . The most commonly used NSAIDs are aspirin (Bayer®), acetaminophen (Tylenol®), and ibuprofen (Advil®). However, it is best to consult a doctor before taking these, especially if you have other medical conditions or are giving them to a young child.
• You can buy over-the-counter medications for nausea, such as `(Bismuth subsalicylate)` (`Pepto-Bismol®`), but it is better to take them under medical advice.

How quickly will I recover after treatment?

If you had amebic dysentery, most people feel better in about 14 days . But if you had bacillary dysentery, you should be completely well within a week .

How can you prevent diarrhea?

The best way to prevent diarrhea is to practice good hygiene . Wash your hands with soap and running water after using the toilet, before preparing food, and before eating. This is the most important thing. In addition, you can do the following:

• Do not share personal items (such as toothbrushes, drinking glasses, towels) with others .
• Do not use water that you are not sure is free of germs . This applies not only to drinking water, but also to water used for cooking and brushing teeth.
• Use bottled water or use chlorine tablets to purify water.
• Alternatively, boil the water until it is boiling well (bubbly) for at least a minute, then turn off the heat and use.
• Stay away from people who have diarrhea.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean, running water before eating. If possible, remove the skin before eating .
• Cook all foods thoroughly . Think twice about cleanliness when preparing things like salads that are eaten raw.

If you are traveling to an area where diarrhea is common, keep these things in mind:

• Don't drink drinks with ice cubes (unless you trust them).
• Do not drink fountain drinks .
• Do not drink water or soft drinks from bottles that are not properly sealed .
• Do not use unpasteurized milk and fruit juice products . Pasteurization is a process that kills bacteria.

If I have diarrhea, how can I prevent it from spreading to others?

If you have diarrhea, you can prevent spreading the illness to others by following these tips:

• Stay away from other people , especially if you have diarrhea.
• Don't have sex with anyone else .
• Don't cook for others .
• Do not go swimming in water (such as swimming pools, rivers, or the sea).
• Clean areas like toilets, sinks, and doorknobs regularly with disinfectant.
• When washing your clothes, wash them in hot water (at least 60 degrees Celsius / 130 degrees Fahrenheit).

What happens if I get diarrhea? Will I recover?

If you have amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis), with proper diagnosis and treatment, your condition will improve . You should be fine in about 14 days. However, if left untreated, amoebic dysentery can even lead to death .

If you have bacillary dysentery, most people will recover within a week without treatment . However, some people can develop serious complications that can be life-threatening. So, if you have symptoms of dysentery for more than a few days, be sure to see a doctor .

When should I see a doctor?

If your symptoms don't improve within a few days, get worse over time, or don't respond well to treatment, be sure to talk to a doctor .

In particular, seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of dehydration . These are the symptoms:

• Confusion (inability to concentrate, loss of consciousness)
• Dark-colored urine
• Decreased frequency of urination or difficulty urinating
• Dizziness or fainting , especially when standing up
• Dry mouth, tongue, or dry cough
• Headache
• No tears coming from the eyes , sunken eyes
• Muscle cramps
• Swelling of the feet
• Heart palpitations

What questions should you ask the doctor?

When you go to see the doctor, it's a good idea to ask questions like these:

• "Doctor, how do you know for sure that I have dysentery?"
• "Do I have amoebic dysentery or bacillary dysentery?"
• "How much fluid should I drink to prevent dehydration?"
• "What kind of fluids should I drink? Something like Jeevani?"
• "Are there any foods I shouldn't eat? What are some good foods?"
• "What medications does the doctor prescribe for me? How long do I need to take them?"

What is the difference between dysentery and cholera?

Both dysentery and cholera are diseases related to the digestive system . However, the difference between the two lies in the factors that cause them .

There are two main types of dysentery: amoebiasis and bacillary dysentery. Amoebiasis is caused by parasites such as E. histolytica, B. coli, and Strongyloidiasis. Bacillary dysentery is caused by bacteria such as Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli.

However, Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) . Therefore, the cause is the main difference. There are also some differences in the symptoms, for example, in cholera, the main symptom is excessive watery diarrhea.

Final Take-Home Message

Dysentery is a disease of the intestines. The main symptom is loose stools, which may be bloody or phlegmy . It is caused by bacterial or parasitic infections. Most people recover in a few days without medical treatment, but dysentery can be fatal , especially in young children, the elderly, and those who are dehydrated or malnourished.

The most important thing is cleanliness! Washing your hands well, using clean water and food can go a long way in preventing this disease.

Whether you have a parasitic infection or other serious complications, it is essential to see a doctor for treatment . If symptoms persist for more than a few days, if your fever does not go down, or if you show signs of severe dehydration, be sure to seek medical advice. Take care of your health!

` Dysentery, diarrhea, germs, cleanliness, dehydration, food safety