How To Treat Shigella Infections

November 23, 2023

Shigella infections, which are bacterial, are caused by Shigella bacteria. The primary sign of a Shigella infection is bloody diarrhea. The shigella bacteria is frequently passed through direct contact with the bacteria in an individual’s stool. Washing hands remains one of the best ways to avoid contracting these infectious bacteria. Shigella infections often happen in daycares and nursing homes when care staff come in contact with stool and don’t thoroughly wash their hands. Shigella bacteria can be passed through contaminated food and by swimming in water contaminated by the bacteria too.

Shigella bacteria are most likely to be contracted by children under five. Mild cases clear up on their own within approximately a week, though more severe cases of this bacterial contamination need to be seen and treated by a doctor. The symptoms of a Shigella infection usually start within forty-eight hours of exposure and include fever, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea with blood or mucus. If your child has a temperature of over 101 degrees, they need to be seen by a doctor. Even when symptoms have abated, an individual's feces may remain contagious for several weeks.

Antibiotics

Most individuals, if they are otherwise healthy, can recover from Shigella infections with proper rest and fluids. However, doctors may recommend an antibiotic to assist patients in their recovery. Some antibiotics aren’t useful against this bacterial infection, however, so patients should be sure to discuss any allergies they may have to medications before their doctor assigns an antibiotic.

Lab tests exist to assist health care providers in making the right decision about specific medications for treating this bacterial infection. Some of the conventional bacteria-fighting medicines used to treat Shigella infections are ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalosporins, azithromycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline.

Replace Salt And Fluids

One of the health hazards of a Shigella infection is diarrhea and vomiting. Diarrhea and vomiting cause the individual to lose too much salt and fluids, which need to be replaced. A patient may have lost too much sodium or fluids if they experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, or muscle cramps in addition to the symptoms of a Shigella bacterial infection.

Thankfully, patients can replace salt and fluids in the body by adding additional sodium to their foods and drinking specific drinks with electrolytes (often called rehydration solutions). But if the low sodium symptoms continue, a doctor’s visit is necessary to prevent more serious health consequences. Drinking beverages with electrolytes also increase the hydration levels in the body and keep an individual with a Shigella infection from becoming dehydrated.

Rest

One of the principal symptoms of a Shigella infection is feeling fatigued. When a bacterial infection such as this one enters the body, it competes with the natural bacteria the body needs to remain stable. The harmful germs and the healthy bacteria compete for food and require energy to keep multiplying. When the medication enters the body, it kills the harmful bacteria.

This fight between harmful bacteria, helpful bacteria, and antibiotics takes work and can cause a patient to become fatigued. If the bacterial infection occurs in an older individual or a young child, their immune systems may not be as able to fight harmful bacteria off. Resting enables the body to concentrate its efforts on fighting bacteria rather than working or otherwise expending energies.

Antacid Medication

Antacid medications, such as bismuth subsalicylate, are available over the counter in most pharmacies. Individuals take bismuth-based medications to treat upset stomachs, nausea, heartburn, and diarrhea. Bismuth subsalicylate works exceptionally well by slowing down the growth of bacteria that irritate the stomach, including the Shigella bacteria. It also works and is safe to use if a child or young person has a fever or mucus and blood in their stools. Use this medication according to a doctor's instructions for the best results. If a doctor recommends antibiotics to treat a Shigella infection, please discuss whether taking antacid medication is the right choice as well.

Avoid Anti-Diarrhea Medication

Individuals naturally think if they have diarrhea, they should use anti-diarrheal medication. However, this is not always the case. In fact, studies show anti-diarrheal medication can actually worsen symptoms of a Shigella infection. Patients should, therefore, avoid taking these medications, particularly those containing loperamide or diphenoxylate with atropine. In a recent study, individuals who were given diphenoxylate with atropine to treat their Shigella infections had a fever as long as they took the medication.

As soon as the drug was discontinued, the fever abated. Anti-diarrheal medication has also been shown to slow gastrointestinal motility and may encourage the release and quick growth of bacterial exotoxins in cases of Shigella infections. So carefully read labels and avoid anti-diarrheal medication, particularly diphenoxylate with atropine and loperamide, when dealing with a Shigella infection.

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