Shigellosis

Introduction. 

Shigellosis is a type of gastroenteritis caused by 4 different species of Shigella, including Shigella sonnei (US), S. flexneri (developing countries), and S. dysenteriae (epidemics). It produces at-times bloody diarrhea and is most common in children.

• Cause: Shigella dysenteriae
• Microscopy: Gram-negative bacilli
• Symptoms: diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, bloody stool
• Transmission: fecal - oral
• Complications: Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Pathogenesis: intracellular replication in M-cells, intestinal epithelium; epithelial damage, cell death, inflammation
• Treatment: antibiotics as indicated by susceptibility testing

References/Links

1. http://www.gastrointestinalatlas.com/english/infectious_colitis.html
2. http://www.starminenews.com/shigella-outbreak-in-kansas-city-over-150-shigellosis-cases-reported/6620/