Bacillary Dysentery

Bacillary dysentery is a common acute intestinal infectious disease caused by Shigella, characterized by suppurative inflammation of the colon, with systemic toxic symptoms, abdominal pain, diarrhea, tenesmus, and passage of bloody purulent stool. Shigella invades the intestinal mucosal epithelium and lamina propria and multiplies there, causing an inflammatory response of the mucosa. The lamina propria shows congestion of capillaries and venules, with exudation and infiltration of cells and plasma, and may even lead to circulatory failure of small vessels in the lamina propria, thereby causing degeneration and even necrosis of epithelial cells; sloughed necrotic epithelial cells form small, superficial ulcers, producing abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody purulent stool. Prevention should address three aspects: controlling the source of infection, cutting off transmission routes, and enhancing bodily resistance. Early detection of patients and carriers, with prompt isolation and thorough treatment, is an important measure for controlling bacillary dysentery. Workers in the food industry, childcare, and water plants require longer-term follow-up and should be temporarily transferred from their posts if necessary.

Common Symptoms

Coma; respiratory failure; fever; diarrhea; dyspnea; foul odor; foamy...; abdominal pain; low fever; nausea

Causes and Pathogenesis

Shigella is excreted in the feces of patients or carriers and transmitted through contaminated hands, food, water, or daily contact, or indirectly through flies, cockroaches, and other vectors, ultimately entering the digestive tract through the mouth to infect susceptible individuals. The population is generally susceptible to Shigella; preschool children are more commonly affected, related to poor hygiene habits. Adult patients are associated with reduced bodily resistance and more opportunities of exposure; in addition, convalescence from one strain of bacillary dysentery does not confer solid immunity, and there is no cross-immunity between different groups and serotypes of Shigella, resulting in repeated infections and relapses. Sources of infection include patients and carriers; among patients, acute typical and chronic occult bacillary dysentery are the most important sources.

Treatment

Drug therapy, symptomatic treatment, supportive therapy

Preventive Measures

Prevention should address three aspects: controlling the source of infection, cutting off transmission routes, and enhancing bodily resistance: (1) Early detection of patients and carriers, with prompt isolation and thorough treatment, is an important measure for controlling bacillary dysentery. Workers in the food industry, childcare, and water plants require longer-term follow-up and should be temporarily transferred from their posts if necessary. (2) Cut off transmission routes: Carry out the "three managements and one elimination" (managing water, feces, and food, and eliminating flies), develop the habit of washing hands before meals and after using the toilet, and regularly examine food industry and childcare workers for the carrier state; once a carrier is found, immediately provide treatment and transfer them from the job. (3) Protect susceptible individuals: The live E. coli strain vaccine may be taken orally; this strain is non-pathogenic but has protective effect, with a protection rate of 85% to 100%; polyvalent live dysentery vaccines have been produced domestically.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Infectious Diseases department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.