Ways To Avoid Getting Dysentery

Dysentery is a food or waterborne illness characterized by intestinal upset and diarrhea with blood or mucus in the stool. People traveling to locations with poor or inconsistent sanitation are most likely to contract dysentery. A variety of infectious organisms can cause dysentery, including certain strains of Escherichia coli and Shigella; Entamoeba species; Balantidium coli; Giardia lamblia; Cryptosporidium parvum; Cyclospora cayetanensis; Vibrio cholera and parahaemolyticus; Campylobacter jejuni; Yersina enterocolitica; Schistosoma species; and Clostridium difficile. Avoiding dysentery involves minimizing the risk of accidentally ingesting disease-causing microbes.

Avoid Tap Water

Stool-contaminated tap water proves a common source of dysentery. Minute concentrations of dysentery-causing microbes may be present in water that looks "clean." Boiling tap water for 10 minutes kills the microbes, making the water safe to drink. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that other safe beverages include hot coffee or tea, bottled carbonated sodas, wine and beer. Ice should be avoided, as freezing does not kill many types of disease-causing microbes. Rinsing toothbrushes and dentures with boiled or bottled water prevents possible contamination from rinsing with tap water.

Avoid Unpasteurized Products

The CDC warns that unpasteurized milk and dairy products produced from unpasteurized milk frequently carry disease-causing microbes. Avoiding these products reduces the risk for dysentery.

Avoid Undercooked or Raw Seafood and Meats

Raw or undercooked seafood and meats, including poultry, may contain infectious bacteria or parasites. The CDC advises that eating thoroughly cooked meats and seafood decreases the risk of contracting dysentery.

Cook or Peel Fruits and Vegetables

In a review article on traveler's diarrhea published in "American Family Physician," Dr. Johnnie Yates notes that fresh fruits and vegetables are common sources of dysentery-causing microbes. Thoroughly cooking fruits and vegetables typically renders them safe. With regard to raw fruits or vegetables, only those that the traveler can peel before eating should be consumed, warns the CDC. Lettuce, leafy vegetables, berries and other fruits and vegetables that do not have peels should not be eaten raw.

Exercise Caution with Street Vendors and Restaurants

Dr. Yates notes that eating in restaurants and consuming food and drinks purchased from street vendors increases the risk of infectious diarrhea. Choosing restaurants that appear to have good hygienic practices may help decrease the risk of foodborne illness. Foods prepared and served cold present a greater risk than those served hot. Selecting thoroughly cooked foods when eating at a restaurant can help decrease the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Hand Washing

Scrupulous attention to hand washing can decrease the risk of dysentery. Many diarrheal microbes can live for extended periods on surfaces and in the environment. Touching objects can lead to contamination of the hands. Washing the hands frequently or using hand sanitizing wipes or gels, especially before eating, can reduce the risk of inadvertent ingestion of disease-causing microbes.