By ULY CLINIC Staff,

​

Dysentery

Refers to diarrhoea presenting with blood in stool. It is most caused by bacteria infection in GIT wheere by the common causes Shigella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Salmonella species of bacteria. The frequency of each pathogen varies considerably in different regions of the world. In rare cases dysentery can be caused by chemical irritants or by intestinal worms.
 

Diagnostic Criteria

​

• Diarrhoea

• Visible blood in stool

Investigations

 

• FBP

• Stool analysis

• Stool culture and sensitivity

• Serum electrolyte

• Serum creatinine and BUN

​

Treatment

Pharmacological treatment

 

• Give Ciprofloxacin PO 15 mg/kg 12 hourly for 3 days.

• If no response after 3 days, Give Ceftriaxone IV 80mg/kg once per day for five days
   

Note:

​

• Ciprofloxacin is safe to use in children

• Blood stool in young infants (<2months) may not be due to dysentery, therefore they should be referred/admitted for further evaluation.

• Intussusceptions may mimic dysentery

​

Investigations

 

• FBP

• Stool analysis

• Stool culture and sensitivity

• Serum electrolyte

• Serum creatinine and BUN

​

Last updated on 06.09.2020

​

Go back to main menu

Go back to previous session

Go to next session

​

References

​

1. Medbroadcast. Dysentry. https://medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/dysentery#. Accessed on 06.09.2020

2. NCBI. Antibiotic for treatment of dysentery in children. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2845863/. Accessed on 06.09.2020

3. Tanzanian Standard treatment guideline for children 2017 edition page 73-74

4. WHO. Dysentry(shigellosis). https://www.who.int/selection_medicines/committees/expert/21/applications/s6_paed_antibiotics_appendix5_dysentery.pdf?ua=1.  Accessed on 06.09.2020