DYSENTERY

What is dysentery?

Dysentery broadly refers to gastrointestinal disorders characterized by inflammation of the intestines, chiefly the colon. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines dysentery as any episode of diarrhea in which blood is present in loose, watery stools.

• Dysentery is spread among humans through contaminated food and water. Once a person is infected, the infectious organism lives in the intestines and is passed in the stool of the infected person. With some infections, animals can also be infected and spread the disease to humans.

Common bacterial causes of dysentery in the United States include infections with the bacteria Shigella and some types of Escherichia coli (E coli). Other less common bacterial causes of bloody diarrhea include Salmonella and Campylobacter infections. Dysentery is associated with environmental conditions where poor sanitation is prevalent. For example, childcare institutions and developing countries have higher rates of Shigella. Amebic dysentery, caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica, is most commonly found in tropical areas with crowded living conditions and poor sanitation.
The signs and symptoms of dysentery can last five to seven days or even longer. The course of the illness varies among individuals, as do symptoms. Some people suffering with dysentery have mild symptoms, while others may have severe diarrhea with or without vomiting that can pose a risk of dehydration. Fortunately, dysentery can be treated with antibiotics and antiparasitic medications.
Untreated dysentery can lead to severe dehydration. Severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can result in shock or coma and may be life-threatening. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have symptoms of severe dehydration such as confusion, lethargy, loss of consciousness, cold skin, or decreased urine output. Seek prompt medical care if you develop diarrhea and vomiting and believe you may have been exposed to contaminated food or water.

What are the symptoms of dysentery?

Dysentery causes irritation and inflammation of the intestines that may result in a number of symptoms. The symptoms can vary in intensity among individuals.

Common symptoms of dysentery

The most common symptoms of dysentery are related to disturbances of the digestive system and include:

• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Bloody diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Nausea with or without vomiting

Other symptoms of dysentery

As the dysentery infection progresses, other symptoms, including symptoms of dehydration, may develop. Other possible symptoms include:

• Decreased urine output
• Dry skin and mucous membranes (such as dry mouth)
• Feeling very thirsty
• Fever and chills
• Muscle cramps
• Muscle weakness (loss of strength)
• Weight loss

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

On rare occasions, dehydration resulting from dysentery may be so severe that a life-threatening situation can develop. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following symptoms:

• Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
• Change in mental status or sudden behavior change, such as confusion, delirium, lethargy, hallucinations and delusions
• High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
• Severe abdominal pain
• Severe dizziness

What causes dysentery?

The bacteria Shigella and E coli and the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica are the most common causes of dysentery. These organisms are present in the stool (feces) of infected people and animals. The Entamoeba histolytica may uneventfully reside in the colon, but if it attacks the colon wall, it can cause dysentery. People with weakened immune systems are also more likely to develop amebic dysentery.
Most commonly, dysentery is caused by drinking water or eating food from sources contaminated with feces containing the pathogens. Swimming in contaminated water may also result in dysentery. For this reason, dysentery occurs most frequently in people traveling to developing countries and in children who touch infected human or animal feces without proper hand washing.

Common causes of dysentery include:

Several organisms are known to cause dysentery, most commonly:

• Campylobacter
• Certain types of E coli
• Entamoeba histolytica
• Salmonella
• Shigella

What are the risk factors for dysentery?

A number of factors increase the risk of developing dysentery. Not all people with risk factors will get dysentery. Risk factors for dysentery include:

• Attendance or work in a day care setting
• Close contact with an infected person or animal
• Consumption of untreated water from lakes, rivers or streams
• Fecal to oral contact
• Travel in countries where the infection is common
• Use of public swimming pools

Reducing your risk of dysentery

You can lower your risk of developing or transmitting dysentery by:

• Avoiding swallowing water in swimming pools, hot tubs, or other recreational water sources
• Drinking only purified water when backpacking, camping or hiking
• Drinking only purified water when visiting developing countries
• Using purified water for brushing your teeth and washing food when visiting developing countries
• Washing your hands well with soap and water after touching feces, having contact with an infected person or animal, changing diapers, or using the bathroom, and before eating or preparing food

How is dysentery treated?

Treatment for dysentery begins with seeking medical care from your health care provider. To determine if you have dysentery, your health care provider may ask you to provide stool samples for laboratory testing.
Antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment for dysentery due to bacterial organisms and is highly effective. It is important to follow your treatment plan for dysentery precisely and to take all of the antibiotics as instructed to avoid reinfection or recurrence.

Antibiotics for the treatment of dysentery

Antibiotic medications that are effective in the treatment of dysentery caused by bacterial organisms include:

• Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)

The most common treatment for amebic dysentery caused by Entamoeba histolytica is metronidazole (Flagyl), an antiparasitic medication.
If you have diarrhea and vomiting, fluid and electrolyte replenishment is also a component of successful treatment.

What you can do to improve dysentery

In addition to following your health care provider’s instructions and taking all medications as prescribed, you can speed your recovery by:

• Ensuring adequate hydration by drinking plenty of water and electrolyte solutions
• Getting plenty of rest

If you have dysentery, it is important to practice good hygiene to avoid spreading the infection to those who have close contact with you. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water after using the bathroom or touching any contaminated bedding or clothing. Avoid use of public pools, hot tubs, or other recreational water facilities until your infection has cleared.

What are the potential complications of dysentery?

You can help minimize your risk of serious complications by following the treatment plan you and your health care provider design specifically for you. Complications of dysentery include:

• Liver abscess
• Postinfectious arthritis (joint pain, eye irritation, and painful urination)
• Spread of infection

Source:  bettermedicine.com

Treatment for Dysentery - Herbal and Home Remedies

What are the treatment of dysentery ?

The person suffering from bloody diarrhea (dysentery) needs immediate medical help. Treatment often starts with an oral rehydrating solution - water mixed with salt and carbohydrates, drinking this solution will help you in preventing dehydration (which may be fatal if it occurs).

Some Herbal Remedies for treatment of dysentery are:

• Piyushvalli Ras - You may take one-two tablets of Piyushvalli Ras with roasted bael fruit and jaggery, two times daily.

• Kadukkai Thole - Take two grams of powdered kadukkai thole (Rind of the Terminalia Chebula) with honey.

• Kutajaghana Vati - One or two tablets of Kutajaghana Vati, when taken 2-3 times daily with water, is useful in treatment of dysentery.

• Bael Fruit - Bael Fruit is also very good for dysentery. It is used when nothing works, the most useful and effective remedy which has been tried by many and proved successful too.

• Sheng Jiang and Brown Sugar - Preparations made from sheng jiang and brown sugar are useful in treating dysentery.

• Dried Mango Fruit - One teaspoonful of dried mango fruit when taken with butter milk two times a day acts as a good curative for dysentery.

• Pudin Hara - Add a few drops of Pudin Hara or Amritdhara (mint essence or peppermint) to half a cup of water and drink it 3-4 times daily.

• Aloe Vera & Rosehip - Aloe Vera and Rosehip are also good for tissue repairing after dysentery.

• Rasaparpati - 150 gms of Rasaparpati may also be given to the person suffering from dysentery, three times daily.

• Pomegranate Seeds and Rasins - Make a paste of - dry pomegranate seeds (Anardana), Raisin (Kishmis) and a small amount of salt. This is a very effective herbal remedy for curing dysentery and has prooved to be successfully many a times.

• A tea of star grass leaves is also good for dysentery.

• Mangoosthan Fuit - One Mangoosthan (Mangostain) fruit can be taken twice a day as a good remedy for dysentery.

• Garlic - Garlic is also useful as a herbal remedy for curing dysentery. One garlic capsule taken three times daily is usually sufficient for curing mild cases of dysentery. However, upto 4 capsules can be taken daily in some severe cases.

• Vetpalai Seeds - Take One teaspoon full of powder of Vetpalai seeds (Wrightiatinctoria) with honey two times a day.

• Some other good herbs for dysentery may include - Bach Flowers, Impatiens, Chestnut Bud and Crab Apple. These herbs will most probably recover your from this parasite attack when taken daily for 6 weeks.

Some Home Remedies for Curing Dysentery Fast

In case of dysentery, some of the home remedies are:

• Lemon Juice - Lemon juice is good for treating ordinary type of dysentery. A few lemons, peeled and sliced were added to 250 ml of water and the mixture was boiled for a few minutes. Now after that the mixture can be drunk atleast 3 times daily.

• Mint and Ginger Juice - You can also drink a mixture of 1 tsp mint juice, 1/2 tsp ginger juice, and 1 tsp honey.

• Onion - Small pieces of onions mixed with curd can be given to the suffering person upto six times daily.

• Basil Leaves - Take 5-6 basil (tulsi) leaves (chopped), 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, some black pepper in 3 table spoon of curd, and mix them properly. Now eat this mixture atleast 4 times daily for one week.

• Nut Grass - Take some tubercles of nut grass and then powder them properly and mix in them fresh ginger juice and honey. This mixture can be taken in parts of 20 gm, three times in a day.

• Papaya - Grate one raw papaya. Add 3 cups of water into it and boil it for near about 10 mins. Now strain the mixture and finish the water in one day.
• source.Ayurvedic-medicines.org