Definition:

Dysentery can be defined as the passage of blood and mucous in diarrheal stools. It is also known as bloody diarrhea.

Causes of bloody diarrhea:

Dysentery in children can be due to following causes-

Infectious causes:

1. Shigella dysenteriae
2. E. histolytica
3. Campylobacter jejuni
4. Cl. Difficile
5. Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli
6. Salmonella
7. Enteroinvasive E. coli
8. V. parahaemolyticus

Non infectious causes:

1. Inflammatory bowel disease
2. Diverticular disease
3. Ischemic colitis
4. Colonic or rectal carcinoma.