Written by Dr.Md.Redwanul Huq (Masum)

Saturday, 23 July 2011 09:55

Definition of Dysentery:

Definition of dysentery is given as a clinical syndrome of abdominal pain, fever, and

passage of bloody, mucopurulent stool resulting from an inflammatory disorder of the

lower intestinal tract by a bacterial, parasitic, or protozoan infection.

SYMPTOMS:

Symptoms of Bacillary Dysentery or Shigellosis(caused by Shigellae):

Early symptoms:

Limited watery diarrhea

Transient fever

anorexia

Malaise

Late symptoms:

Mild abdominal discomfort to severe abdominal pain

Watery diarrhoea containing blood or mucus

Fever(High grade)

Nausea and vomiting

Tenesmus

Mild to moderate dehydration

Life-threatening symptoms ( specially in children <5 years of age):

Hard rigid abdomen

Fever with chills and rigor

Restlessness

Severe dehydration

Drowsiness

Unconsciousness.

Symptoms of Amoebic dysentery or Amoebiasis (caused by Entamoeba histolytica):

About 90% of infections are asymptomatic. In symptomatic cases of amoebic dysentery the

symptoms are:

Early symptoms:

A gradual onset of lower abdominal pain and

Mild diarrhoea.

Late symptoms:

Malaise

Nausea and vomiting

Watery diarrhoea (may pass 10-12 stools per day), which can contain blood, mucus or pus

Diffuse lower abdominal pain

Weigh loss

Back pain

Fever may be present.

Lifestyle modification to prevent and cure Dysentery:

• Wash your hands with soap or ash or mud before handling of foods and after defecation or after handling of children’s feces.
• Don’t eat fresh uncooked vegetables or drink unboiled water.
• Take complete bed rest.
• Apply hot water bag over the abdomen if you have abdominal pain.

Dietary modification in Dysentery :

*During the acute symptoms only orange juice and water or buttermilk should be taken and it is advisable to take very low-pressure warm water enema, only admitting as much water as one can tolerate.

*After recovery from the acute symptoms relatively solidified form of food scan be taken.

*Take small and frequent diets.

*Take foods rich in energy and micronutrients.

*Breast feeding of the baby should be continued.

*In chronic dysentery, the unripe bael fruit can be roasted over the fire and the pulp can be then mixed with water or buttermilk or equal quantity of dried ginger.

Foods Allowed	Foods To Avoid
Rice, curd,vegetables, fresh ripe fruits, banana, bael fruit, pomegranate, skimmed milk, lemon juice, pomegranate rind (boiled in milk), vegetable and chicken soup with salt .	Canned fruit juice, carbonated beverages,sweetened tea, coffee.
High fiber food (having soluble fiber)- Apples, Barley,Citrus fruits, Strawberries, Carrots, Guar, Legumes	High fiber food (having insoluble fiber)- Whole-wheat flour,Bran, Vegetables,Whole grains,Mature vegetables,Wheat, and edible seeds like flax seeds