Anyone who comes into contact with infected stool can get Shigella. It can
be spread in day care settings with young children, especially toddlers aged
2 to 4, who are not fully toilet trained or have poor hygiene. It can be spread
in contaminated food or water, in developing countries and among people with
poor hygiene or those living in unsanitary conditions. Men having sex with men
are at higher risk due to high rates of infection in the gay community.
When a person is sick with Shigella, they can have: diarrhea (sometimes with
blood and/or mucous), fever, stomach cramps, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
and vomiting (throwing up). Symptoms usually happen 1 to 3 days after exposure.
A person with Shigella may experience no, mild or severe symptoms. If you have
serious symptoms you should see your doctor. In most cases it takes 4 to 7 days
to get better, but sometimes longer. In some persons, especially very young
and very old people and people with compromised immune systems, the diarrhea
can be so bad they need to be in hospital.
Shigella is very infectious and spreads easily. Because the bacteria is in
the stool of an infected person, infection happens when tiny bits of infected
stool get in someone else's mouth. Here are the most common ways:
Being exposed to infected stool or objects contaminated with stool:
In day care centres, if hands are not washed each time you touch children
and change diapers.
Contaminated food or water
When food is contaminated by infected food handlers.
When sanitation and hygiene are poor.
In developing countries without proper drinking water treatment.
Frequent and careful hand washing is important for everybody. Make sure
children wash their hands properly in day care centers and at home. This is
especially important for children who are not completely toilet-trained (including
children in diapers).
When possible, young children with a Shigella infection who are still in
diapers should not be around or play with uninfected children.
At swimming beaches, having enough bathrooms near the swimming area helps
keep the water from becoming contaminated.
Simple precautions to take while traveling to the developing world:
drink only treated or boiled water.
eat only cooked hot foods or fruits you peel yourself. (see BC HealthFile
#41e Traveller's
Diarrhea).
When having sex
Do not have unprotected direct oral-anal contact.
Right after sex, thoroughly wash your hands, other body parts, and objects
like used condoms or other objects that may have touched stool. Use running
water and soap.
Vigorously rub hands together including the backs of your hands and wrists.
Clean under your nails (and keep them short).
Dry hands with a fresh paper towel or clean towel.
Be aware of ways that tiny bits of stool can get into your mouth. These
include:
biting your nails;
lighting up a cigarette;
eating unwrapped candy, nuts, chips, fruit or other food;
sharing cups, bottles, utensils, plates or other household equipment.
Washing your hands well and often, with soap and water, is important for
all age groups, especially after having a bowel movement, changing diapers
and before preparing foods or drinks.
Watch children when they wash their hands. This is really important for
children who are not completely toilet-trained (including children in diapers).
Get rid of dirty diapers properly.
Disinfect diaper changing areas with household bleach, Lysol® or bactericidal
wipes.
Children with Shigella must be kept out of day care centers until they have
shown that they are no longer infected.
Persons who handle food, or who care for children, the sick, the elderly,
or other dependents, can not go to work until they have shown that they have
cleared the infection (Health Act, Communicable Disease Regulation,
Part 5, Schedule D).
Do not have unprotected oral-anal sex for at least 7 days after your symptoms
have stopped.
Persons with Shigella infections can be treated with antibiotics to speed
recovery and to help stop others from getting it. In some persons, especially
young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems, the
diarrhea can be so bad that they must go to hospital.
If you have diarrhea drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
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