Dysentery Symptoms and Signs

Dysentery is a digestive disorder that may occur from time to time. The human digestive system is a long tract that has a number of different parts. Dysentery occurs when the lining of the large intestine gets affected. This lining gets infected by bacteria causing an inflammation. When the lining is inflamed it results in various dysentery symptoms.

These dysentery symptoms include stomach pain, pain in the lower abdomen and diarrhea. Often, there are associated symptoms like fever and dehydration that result from the body being drained of its energy sources by the condition.
The nature of the infection determines the dysentery symptoms and treatment. The doctor will look at the nature and severity of the dysentery symptoms and treatment options will then be explored for the same. Dysentery symptoms prevention can only be achieved if one avoids food and water sources that may contain the bacteria that cause dysentery. Dysentery symptoms in pregnancy can cause serious problems for the expecting mother. Dehydration is one of the most common symptoms as the body loses plenty of fluids, firstly in the form of diarrhea and secondly because of the lack of absorption of fluids in the lower intestinal system. The health of the mother and the child will be under threat if she suffers from dysentery. Thus, extra care must be taken, specifically in regions where dysentery is known to be prevalent. Another common dysentery symptom is gas which tends to develop as a side effect of diarrhea. This usually compounds the feeling of pain and discomfort that is experienced by the individual.

Dysentery Causes

As explained above, dysentery is related to the inflammation of the lining of the large intestine. This inflammation occurs because of an overpopulation of bacteria. When this happens, the lining of the intestine gets irritated and begins to attack the bacteria present. This causes inflammation. Meanwhile, the functions of the intestinal system begin to falter which is why diarrhea occurs. It is important to understand the dysentery causes and treatment options available. Unhygienic water and unhygienic food are both listed as causes of dysentery. One may also suffer from such a condition in areas where there is garbage accumulation. The reason for this is that there is a chance of food or water getting contaminated as a result of poor civic hygiene. Generally speaking, dysentery is a condition that is more common in tropical areas where the warm climate is conducive to the production of bacteria. This does not mean that it will not happen elsewhere. However, the combination of tropical weather and poor civic hygiene is a combination that will definitely promote the spread of dysentery. It is therefore important to consume food that is thoroughly cooked and properly cleaned prior to cooking. Water should also be boiled thoroughly or passed through a water purification system before being consumed.

Dysentery Treatment

As explained above, dysentery tends to drain the body of the individual both in terms of fluid removal as well as the fact that the absorption of nutrients does not take place efficiently. This combination of problems leaves the individual feeling extremely weak and unhealthy. When the person experiences such weakness, the ability of his or her immune system to function normally is compromised. This will make it difficult for the individual to ward off the infection. Therefore, the first step for dysentery natural treatment is to rehydrate the individual. The consumption of water and fresh citrus juices is recommended as these provide the body with hydration and also with some energy. Dysentery treatment guidelines suggest that the patient should not be treated with antibiotic medication until the results of a laboratory analysis become available. In some cases, the patient may be in severe distress and may be unable to consume fluids. In such a situation, the administration of fluids will be done intravenously in a hospital. This treatment option is necessary to help rejuvenate the body of the patient. Once his or her body is recovering its strength, it will fight off the infection. Typically, doctors tend to provide the patient with some form of antibiotic medication during intravenous therapy to hasten the process of recovery. Specific antibiotics targeted at dysentery treatment will depend on the results of tests conducted to determine the nature of the infection. These tests are used to identify the specific strain of bacteria that is causing the infection so that the correct antibiotic can be used for treatment.

Dysentery Bacteria

In most cases of dysentery, bacteria are involved. Essentially, dysentery is a condition where the lining of the large intestine is affected, thus causing diarrhea and a number of related symptoms. While dysentery and bacteria are linked in almost all cases, it is possible for the condition to occur as a result of an infection by parasitic worms as well. While the actual infestation is different from an infection, the end result may be similar for the patient. This is the reason why dysentery treatment is related to the tests that have to be conducted to determine the nature and scope of the condition. The most common dysentery bacterial infection is related to the entamoeba hystolitica bacteria. This type of bacteria is found in many different tropical regions. It happens to be the case that these regions are prone to heavy rainfall as well as poor civic administration. The combination of this and high temperatures provides plenty of scope for the development of bacteria. When the case of dysentery is related to a bacterial infestation, then antibacterial medication is strictly required. Another important step to take is to ensure that the food and water sources are checked for their quality. Individuals who suffer from such problems may have digestive issues for weeks and possibly even months after their condition has been resolved. For this reason, the patient needs to practice extra care to ensure that dysentery causing bacteria are not re-introduced into the system. In such a situation, a relapse will probably lead to worse symptoms in the patient as his or her body will be weakened by the initial illness.

Submitted on January 16, 2014