Dysentery: how it is transmitted, symptoms, methods of prevention

The causative agent of dysentery is the aerobic microbes of the Shigella genus, which are ubiquitous. But how is dysentery transmitted from person to person? Infection is made through the fecal-oral mechanism. In other words, the intestinal bacteria of a sick person pass into the gastrointestinal tract of a healthy person.

Causes

The reasons that bacteria pass can be:

• Lack of sanitary culture and lack of personal hygiene. So, dirty hands can serve as a conductor for transferring bacteria to food or water, which, in turn, can lead to dysentery.
• Insects, in particular flies, can also become carriers of dysentery infections.
• The use of vegetables and fruits that have not been pre-washed.
• The spread of infection can be carried out by workers in the catering or water supply sectors if they are infected.
• Use of common household items with an infected person (switches, dishes, bedding, etc.).
• Eating expired food.
• A weakened immune system can contribute to dysentery infection.

The most common infection in developing countries, where pronounced unsanitary conditions.

Severity

Symptoms of dysentery can occur in various ways, depending on the severity of the course of the disease. There are two degrees:

• Chronic dysentery With the course of the disease for a period of more than 3 months, it becomes chronic.
• Acute dysentery. The duration is from a few days to 3 months. At this stage of the disease, several forms are distinguished, each of which has a different symptomatology. Let's consider them further.

Light form

Inherent in the sudden nature of the manifestation of signs of dysentery, which boils down to the following:

• Pain in the abdomen, localized in its lower part.
• Perhaps a slight increase in body temperature.
• Frequent stool with impurities of mucus and blood (up to 10 times a day).

Middle form

It has a greater severity of symptoms of dysentery, which include:

• A feeling of general malaise, followed by the occurrence of an unpleasant feeling in the abdomen with the manifestation of characteristic signs of the disease.
• The occurrence of cramping pains located in the lower abdomen, often on the left side.
• An increase in the frequency of stool to 15-25 times a day, its subsequent increase is possible.
• Following cramping pains, bloating due to gas formation is possible.

Heavy form

She is characterized by an acute clinical picture with the following manifestations:

• The rapid course of the disease.
• General weakness of the body.
• Fever.
• Very frequent stools, in addition to impurities of mucus and blood, pus can be released.
• Intense cramping abdominal pain.

How is dysentery transmitted?

Experts noted that most cases of dysentery occur in the summer season, since it is characterized by high temperatures and an abundance of fruits and vegetables. There are several ways to transmit the disease:

1. Dysentery is transmitted through blood and water. When infected feces get into the water, the process of infection of the entire reservoir begins. The infection enters the body if you drink unboiled water from this source. Dysentery also enters the body when bathing, but in the event that part of the water was accidentally swallowed. When watering food plants, infection also occurs. Waterborne transmission is the most common and serious cause of the disease.
2. Dysentery is transmitted by eating foods. This path follows the waterborne mode of transmission. Usually dysentery is transmitted with dairy products, in particular farm products.
3. Infection through the use of industrial products is not recorded so often. The main cause of food contamination is an infected person who participated in the manufacture and manufacture of the product. Vegetable products are also a threat.
4. Dysentery is transmitted by airborne droplets. This path is not very common, as the virus will not live long without the necessary environment. Basically, children are affected by such methods of the disease. The disease is transmitted through toys, dishes, cutlery.
5. Dysentery can be transmitted by insects. The main carrier of various infections is the fly. On its paws - a huge number of bacteria that fall on food.
6. Dysentery is transmitted through the soil. The bacteria that cause the infection develop due to regular watering or due to high moisture levels. Another reason may be watering contaminated water. Dysentery can also develop if a person bites his nails, licks dirty things, rarely washes his hands.

There are several groups of the disease, each of which is characterized by a special method of infection. Transmission routes also depend on climate. In places with a hot climate, dysentery is transmitted by water, and in others, infection through food predominates. Thus, in order to avoid this unpleasant disease, it is necessary to avoid the transmission of it and wash your hands as much as possible.

Diagnostics

Suspicion of dysentery can be caused by the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease, in particular, the frequent occurrence of blood blotches in the stool. However, to establish a diagnosis, certain diagnostic tests are required.

General blood analysis

The causative agents of infection are retained mainly in the intestinal mucosa and are destroyed due to the cells of the immune system. Only in some cases, penetration into the bloodstream through the lymph nodes is possible, which is typical for severe forms of dysentery. Despite this, a patient's condition is assessed through a blood test, which allows timely identification of complications. The results of the analysis in dysentery are characterized by the following processes:

• increase in CO indicators up to 3 times;
• increasing the intensity of neutrophil production;
• Leukogram shift to the left;
• increase in the number of monocytes in the blood.

Coprogram (feces analysis)

Laboratory tests of stool help detect abnormalities. During the analysis, an assessment is made of the composition, physico-chemical properties and a check for the presence of foreign inclusions. When dysentery is noted:

• the presence of mucus;
• transparency or pink, reddish tint;
• dense consistency at the initial stages of the disease with subsequent transition to liquid with the addition of blood;
• the presence of many epithelial cells;
• the presence of white blood cells.

Sowing (bacteriological diagnosis)

In the study by this method, the material is taken and sown on nutrient media favorable for the development of the pathogen. If a Shigella colony (the causative agent of dysentery) appears on such an environment, the diagnosis is confirmed. In addition, the type and subspecies of the pathogen is determined by evaluating the cultural properties. This allows you to clearly identify the diagnosis, followed by the appointment of effective treatment.

Serological diagnosis

The effectiveness of the method is ensured by the determination of specific antibodies in the blood. The study is based on the response of the patient’s immune system to foreign microorganisms by the production of specific immune antibodies that, when detected, destroy only the bacterium against which they were developed. In the case of dysentery - against shigella, which indicates infection with this pathogen.

Treatment

With a confirmed diagnosis of dysentery, it is necessary to start treatment in a timely manner to avoid the progression of the disease and disorders of the intestinal mucosa. It is possible to conduct therapy at home, without hospitalization, but on the basis of a doctor’s prescription. With dysentery, patients in the following conditions need mandatory hospitalization:

• moderate and severe forms of dysentery;
• diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems;
• with increased epidemiological threat (employees of public and educational institutions, food industry, etc.)

The main stage in the treatment of the disease is the administration of antibacterial drugs. The timely start of antibiotic use contributes to a speedy recovery and will reduce the risk of complications and the acquisition of a chronic form of the disease. The following medications that have an antibacterial effect are prescribed:

• Fluoroquinolones (Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin) provide for the death of bacterial cells, affecting their genetic apparatus.
  
• Nitrofurans ("Furazolidone") contribute to the activation of the patient's immunity and have a detrimental effect on the metabolism of shigella and their breathing process.
• Quinoline derivatives - drugs of this group destroy the enzymatic systems of bacteria by blocking them. They have antifungal and antimicrobial effects, but do not affect the beneficial microflora.

In addition to taking antibiotics, the following treatment recommendations must be observed:

• When dehydration occurs, saline solutions are used.
• You should use a sorbent (Enterosgel or Smectu) 3 times a day.

Prevention

To prevent dysentery, the following must be observed:

1. Wash hands thoroughly when visiting the restroom and upon returning home from the street. Use wet antibacterial wipes, sprays or gels if you cannot wash your hands. Observe the basic principles of hygiene, teach this to children.
2. Before eating fruits, vegetables, herbs, berries, they must be thoroughly washed to destroy the bacteria.
3. If possible, heat treat food products, and if it is impossible to heat or boil, then they must be consumed while they are fresh. Long storage of ready meals is not recommended. Thawing food should be carried out in the refrigerator, this is not recommended in water.
4. During the summer season, you should pay attention to the quality of home and farm products, you need to buy them with caution, and especially vegetables that cannot be thermally processed.
5. Many insects carry various viruses, so it is always necessary to cover food from them. It is recommended that you close the windows with mosquito nets to prevent unwanted insects from entering the house.

No need to think whether dysentery is transmitted through anything else. You must adhere to preventive measures as much as possible.

Do not forget that the main cause of the disease is an infected person. When the slightest symptoms appear, you must consult a doctor and begin a course of treatment. During therapy, it is worth taking seriously preventive measures, for example, thoroughly washing your hands after visiting the restroom and regularly disinfecting the bathroom.

Thus, knowledge of prophylaxis and through which dysentery is transmitted will help a person avoid this disease, which causes great discomfort, and if any health problems are found, it is necessary to immediately contact specialists, as well as to avoid places of congestion of patients.