Context

A number of cases of shigella infection have detected in Kozhikode district of Kerala.

About

What is shigella infection?

• Shigellosis or shigella infection is a contagious intestinal infection.
• Caused by: It is caused by a genus of bacteria known as
  • The same bacteria is also understood to be the prime reason for the occurrence of diarrhea especially among children in the African and South Asian countries.
  • The lethal bacteria enters the body through ingestion and harms the epithelial lining of the colon resulting in severe inflammation and subsequent damage to the cells.
  • The bacteria is so lethal that only a minute number of bacteria can cause havoc in a person’s body.
• Transmission: It gets transmitted from person to person after the bacteria has been ingested by the person accidentally.

What are the symptoms?

• People with shigellosis may start experiencing symptoms within one or two days of the entry of germs in the body.
• The common symptoms are:
  • diarrhea (often bloody and painful)
  • stomach pain
  • fever
  • nausea
  • vomiting
• There have been cases too where people don’t experience any signs of the bacterial infection.

How to prevent the disease?

• Wash hands with soap especially after dealing with a child’s diaper and before preparing/eating food.
• While swimming in pools and lakes, it’s advisable not to swallow water.
• Avoid eating contaminated food especially from the street in unhygienic conditions.
• Drinking boiled water is advised.