What You Need to Know About Shigella Infections and How to Protect Your Child

Shigella, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, is causing concern among health officials in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that most shigella infections occur in children under the age of 5, with symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain. The CDC warns that there has been a rise in "extensively drug-resistant" shigella cases, which are difficult to treat, raising potentially serious public health concerns.

Shigella is a fecal-oral disease that spreads through contaminated food or water, contact with infected surfaces or objects, or exposure to infected fecal matter during sexual contact. The bacteria causes shigellosis, an infection that leads to an estimated 450,000 infections in the U.S. each year, with Shigella sonnei being the most common form in the country.

Shigellosis symptoms include diarrhea, which can be bloody or last more than three days, fever, stomach pain, and a constant feeling of needing to defecate even when the bowels are empty. Although shigellosis can be challenging to diagnose, doctors may suspect it if a child is having blood with mucus in their stool along with stomach cramps.

Parents can collect a stool sample from their child to aid in the diagnosis of shigellosis. Doctors may prescribe oral antibiotics for three to five days if the child is struggling with the illness, and hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics may be necessary if the child is dehydrated or not improving.

Good handwashing practices are crucial in preventing the spread of shigella and other illnesses. While it is unlikely that a child will contract shigella, parents must be aware of the symptoms and seek medical attention if necessary.