Bacillary dysentery is a bacteria-induced diarrheal illness primarily caused by four species of Shigella: S. dysenteriae, S. sonnei, S. flexneri and S. boydii. Shigellosis is another term for bacillary dysentery. The infecting bacteria cause an intense inflammatory reaction in the intestinal wall, leading to diarrheal symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 14,000 cases of shigellosis occur annually in the United States. Approximately 90 million cases occur annually worldwide with 108,000 deaths, reports the World Health Organization.
Diarrhea
The hallmark symptom of bacillary dysentery is diarrhea, which typically begins within one to three days after ingestion of the causative bacteria. The World Health Organization notes the diarrhea begins as watery stool, but soon transitions to bloody diarrhea with mucus. The stool is infectious. Outbreaks of shigellosis are common in areas with poor sanitation and crowded conditions. Food and drinking water contaminated with infected fecal material, and limited access to running water for hand washing and personal hygiene, can lead to rapid spread of the illness through large populations. In the United States, Shigella outbreaks typically occur in settings with young children, and are most often related to lack of personal hygiene skills in this age group.
Tenesmus
Bacillary dysentery causes frequent urges to move the bowels, although little or no fecal material passes with so many attempts. The medical term for this symptom is tenesmus. Rectal pain and abdominal cramping usually accompany tenesmus.
Abdominal Cramps
As noted in "Todar's Online Textbook of Bacteriology" by Kenneth Todar, Ph.D., abdominal cramps are a characteristic symptom of shigellosis. Cramping typically begins shortly before the onset of diarrhea. Bacillary dysentery typically clears in five to seven days in otherwise healthy individuals. Children, those who are malnourished, and elderly persons may have more severe symptoms and a protracted course.
Fever
According to CDC, fever typically accompanies bacillary dysentery. Children younger than age 2 may develop high fever with associated febrile seizures.
Joint Pain
A late complication of shigellosis is the development of postinfectious arthritis, which occurs two to five weeks after the diarrheal illness. CDC notes approximately 2 percent of people develop this complication. Symptoms include joint pain, painful urination and eye irritation. Postinfectious arthritis may last for many months; in some people, the condition becomes chronic.
