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Shigellosis
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Shigellosis is an intestinal infection that causes acute diarrhea. It is caused by a bacterium of the genus Shigella, a gram-negative bacillus, meaning it is rod-shaped and has a type of wall that stains a certain way in the laboratory. It is enteroinvasive, that is, it does not stay on the surface of the intestine but gets inside it. It spreads by the fecal-oral route: from one person's stool to another person's mouth.
What stands out is how few organisms it takes. Stomach acid damages Shigella less than it damages other bacteria, and an inoculum of 10 to 100 organisms can be enough to make someone sick. It then multiplies in the small intestine, passes into the colon and invades its epithelium, the layer of cells that lines it on the inside.
The time from swallowing it to the appearance of symptoms is usually 1 to 4 days. The main symptom is bloody diarrhea, often with mucus as well. It is usually self-limited, meaning it clears on its own in 5 to 7 days.
In brief
Shigellosis is an acute diarrheal infection caused by Shigella, an enteroinvasive gram-negative bacillus spread by the fecal-oral route.
It withstands stomach acid better than other bacteria, and an inoculum of 10 to 100 organisms can cause disease; it multiplies in the small intestine, passes into the colon and invades its epithelium.
Stomach acid punishes it less than it punishes other bacteria.
It incubates for 1 to 4 days and the main symptom is bloody diarrhea, often with mucus; it is usually self-limited and resolves in 5 to 7 days.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingShigellosis, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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