Medical expert of the article
New publications
Symptoms of dysentery (shigellosis)
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The incubation period of dysentery (shigellosis) depends mainly on the pathway of infection and the number of pathogens. Usually it ranges from 6-8 hours to 7 days, an average of 2-3 days.
Dysentery (shigellosis) almost always begins acutely, with an increase in body temperature to 38-39 ° C and above, which lasts no more than 3-5 days. Often during the first day of the disease, a single and repeated vomiting is noted, which is usually not repeated the next day. Vomiting, lasting 3 days or more. Uncharacteristic for shigellosis.
The child becomes restless, refuses food, sleeps badly, often complains of headache and abdominal pain, usually cramping, with no clear localization or in the left ileal region. The chair becomes more frequent, it becomes liquid. There are pathological impurities in the form of turbid mucus, greens, blood veins, less often - impurities of scarlet blood ("hemocolitic" stool). At the beginning of the disease, the stool, as a rule, is plentiful, feces. However, by the end of the first day, more often on the 2-3rd day of the disease, the stool becomes scarce and represents a lump of turbid mucus (often pus) with veins (or impurity) of blood - "rectal spitting".
In the acute period of dysentery (shigellosis) there are tenesmus - pulling or sharp pains in the abdomen before defecation. Painful urge to defecate occurs as a result of simultaneous spasm of the sigmoid colon and anal sphincters. Sometimes the urge is false - the child sits down on the pot, presses, complains of pain in the abdomen, however, stool does not appear. False urge and straining during defecation are so pronounced and frequent. Which can lead to prolapse of the mucous membrane of the rectum. In recent years, prolapse of the mucous membrane of the rectum is rarely observed, more often note the compliance of the anus with the phenomena of the sphincteritis, less often - the gaping of the anus.