Dysentery - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Dysentery is a particularly severe form of diarrhea, characterized by the evacuation of an abnormal amount of liquid stool, with a frequency higher than normal, and complicated by loss of blood, mucus and / or pus. Heavy discharge can make the evacuation particularly painful.

Dysentery is always of an acute manifestation: the problem arises suddenly and is quickly resolved. Usually, it lasts from a few hours to a few days, with different degrees of intensity and frequency.

Less often, however, the disorder persists for more than two weeks and can even last for months (chronic dysentery).

The most common causes of dysentery include infections affecting the intestine (including toxinfections), food intolerances, the use of antibiotics, malabsorption and parainfluenza diseases. Infectious forms are more frequently caused by Entamoeba histolytica (amoebic dysentery) and by Shigella dysenteriae (bacillary dysentery); more rare, it is infectious dysentery caused by Giardia lamblia, Salmonella spp . and Balantidium coli .

Gastroenteritis, colitis, ulcerative rectocolitis, Crohn's disease, carcinoma of the distal colon and rectum, diverticulitis and intestinal polyposis are also among the pathologies that can cause dysentery.

The symptoms associated with dysentery are flatulence, intense cramps in the abdomen, heartburn and tenesmus (spasmodic and painful contraction associated with a continuous need to evacuate) at the anus. Sometimes fever and vomiting also appear. The loss of liquids and mineral salts can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.