Dysentery

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Dysentery is an illness (formerly known as the bloody flux or simply flux) involving severe diarrhea that is often associated with blood in the feces. It is caused by ingestion of food containing micro-organisms, causing a disease in which inflammation of the intestines affect the body significantly. There are two major types: shigellosis, which is caused by one of several types of Shigella bacteria; and amoebic dysentery, which is caused by the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica. Kiyoshi Shiga discovered the dysentery bacteria in 1898.

Contents

[edit] Etiology

[edit] Amoebic dysentery (Shigella Dysenteriae)

Amoebic dysentery is transmitted by contaminated water, and is well known as a "traveler's dysentery" because of its prevalence in developing nations, or "Montezuma's Revenge" although it is occasionally seen in industrialized countries. Liver infection, and subsequent amoebic abscesses can occur. It can be treated with metronidazole

[edit] Symptoms

The main symptom of epidemic dysentery is bloody diarrhea. Other common symptoms include abdominal cramps, fever and rectal pain. Less frequent complications can include a form of blood poisoning known as sepsis, seizure and kidney failure. A long term symptom of amoebic dysentery is dairy intolerance which can persist for years.

Tiny organisms are spread through contaminated food and water when either is swallowed. Dysentery can also be spread by contaminated hands, from toddlers, because of their poor hygiene and close contact with other toddlers, if in daycare. From ingestion, they move into the intestines via the stomach. Amoebae spread by forming infective cysts which can be found in stools and spread if whoever touches it does not wash their hands. There are also free amoebae, or trophozoites, that do not form cysts. Symptoms are most likely to appear in places with poor hygiene.

[edit] Treatment

In adults, dysentery caused by bacteria usually subsides spontaneously. But in children, and other vulnerable groups, the condition can be treated with antibiotics. However, Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (Sd1) has, in recent years, become increasingly resistant to drug treatments. Among people who have become dehydrated as a result of the disease, the key is to replenish their fluid stocks as quickly as possible. It may be a good idea to stay in bed. This can be done using oral rehydration salts or intravenous fluids. Amoebic dysentery is usually treated with a combination of drugs. These include an amoebicide to kill the parasite, an antibiotic to treat any associated bacterial infection, and a drug to combat infection of the liver and other tissues. The amoeba can damage the villi and inhibit lactase production (for which there is no permanent treatment). Lactase can be taken orally to assist dairy absorption.

[edit] Indigenous Treatment

The indigenous Oaxaca Chontal of the Mexican state of Oaxaca employed the plant Calea zacatechichi (also known as Dream Herb, Bitter Grass) as a cathartic anti-dysentery remedy.[1]

The root of the Malay Apple tree (Syzygium Malaccense) may also be used. website

[edit] Cultural significance

Dysentery was the cause of death of:

  • O. Uplavici was the fictional author of the article About dysentery whose name persisted in science literature for fifty years.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mayagoitia L, Diaz JL, Contreras CM (1986). "Psychopharmacologic Analysis of an Alleged Oneirogenic Plant Calea zacatechichi". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 18: 229–43. 
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