Dysentery is a gastrointestinal disease. It causes severe diarrhea that contains blood or mucus. There are two main types of dysentery:

• Amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis): The parasite Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) is one of the main causes of amoebic dysentery. Other parasites that cause amoebic dysentery include Balantidium coli (B. coli) and strongyloidiasis.
• Bacillary dysentery: A bacterial infection causes bacillary dysentery. Some of the most common bacteria that cause bacillary dysentery include Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Bacillary dysentery is the most common type of dysentery.

Without proper treatment, dysentery can be fatal. If you have any symptoms of dysentery, reach out to your healthcare provider.

Who does dysentery affect

Anyone can get dysentery. It’s a more common condition in tropical areas of the world with poor water sanitation. Water sanitation is a process that cleans and purifies water, so it’s safe to drink.

You may also be more likely to get dysentery if you don’t practice good hygiene. You should always wash your hands after using the bathroom. If you don’t, you risk contaminating food, water and surfaces.

How common is dysentery

Dysentery is common. According to studies, there are about 1.7 billion cases of dysentery every year in the world.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What are the symptoms of dysentery

Dysentery symptoms vary slightly according to what type of dysentery you have.

Amoebic dysentery

Most people who have amoebic dysentery don’t have any symptoms.

Mild symptoms of amoebic dysentery may include:

• Diarrhea.
• High fever.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Weight loss.
• Upset stomach.

In rare cases, the parasite may move to other areas of your body and cause an abscess.

Bacillary dysentery

Symptoms of bacillary dysentery may include:

• Diarrhea containing blood or mucus.
• High fever.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Painful stomach cramps (abdominal pain).

If you have severe dysentery, complications may include extreme inflammation, widening (dilation) of your large intestine and acute kidney disease.

Does dysentery cause death

Without proper treatment, dysentery may be fatal. It’s especially deadly to:

• Young children.
• People 50 years of age and older.
• People who have dehydration or malnutrition.

What are the causes of dysentery

The parasitic and bacterial infections that cause dysentery are very contagious. People usually transfer the parasite or bacteria to each other when poop (fecal matter) from an infected person gets into another person’s mouth. Transmission can occur during:

• Food preparation by someone who doesn’t wash their hands or has poor hygiene.
• Drinking contaminated water.
• Sexual contact, especially involving the anus.

Bacillary dysentery occurs when foreign bacteria enter your body and the infection becomes severe. Some of the most common bacteria that cause bacillary dysentery include:

• Shigella, which leads to shigellosis.
• Salmonella, which causes salmonella.
• Campylobacter, which causes campylobacteriosis.
• Escherichia coli, which leads to E. coli infection.

Amoebiasis occurs when a particular parasite enters your body.