Various old and new treatments for Shigella Infection

Scientists and doctors usually discuss among themselves all the “Various old and new treatments for Shigella Infection” on a regular basis. It is because they want to properly treat this ailment in the future with very minimal pain.

Continue reading to know everything about Shigella.

Various old and new treatments for Shigella Infection

Shigella is a group of bacteria that causes an infection in the human digestive system. The infection caused is called Shigellosis. It is characterized by watery diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus. It spreads through a fecal-oral route. It is a very contagious disease commonly found in children below 5. People infected with Shigella may or may not be exhibiting symptoms depending upon the severity of the infection. But their stool will be infectious and remain so for a few weeks.

Shigellosis can range from mild infection presenting as abdominal pains to severe conditions involving full-blown dysentery. Mild infections usually resolve on their own without requiring any treatment. However, severe infection requires treatment which sometimes may even include hospitalization.

Treatment for Shigellosis:

Shigellosis is treated the same way for an extended period. Although, some of the antibiotics given in the past are not recommended these days because resistance is developed against them over time. Various aspects of care provided to the infected person are discussed below:

Medical care:

To provide complete medical care to a patient, the following measures must be taken:

• Fluid resuscitation is required to restore electrolytes and body fluids lost due to diarrhea. Patients are suggested to drink liquids, mainly electrolytes containing rehydrating solutions. In cases of severe infection, fluids are provided intravenously to replenish fluids quicker.
• Antipyretics are prescribed for symptomatic management of fever.
• Antidiarrheal drugs are not prescribed as they prolong the duration of infection.
• Patients who present with seizures need to get treated for them early. Another neurologic symptom that needs to be treated is raised intracranial pressure. This is treated using medications or surgical intervention depending upon severity. Medications include Mannitol and hypertonic saline. Although, drainage of excess fluid may need to be done.
• Nutritional supplementation aids in malnourished patients. Vitamin A quickens the recovery process in children.
• Zinc supplements have proven to reduce the duration of diarrhea, facilitate weight gain and strengthen the immune system while recovering from the infection.
• Pharmaceutical drugs recommended by WHO required to combat Shigellosis include antibiotics. Antibiotics against Shigella are:
  • Macrolides: Azithromycin
  • Beta-lactams: Amoxicillin, Ampicillin
  • Quinolones: Ciprofloxacin, Nalidixic acid

Antibiotic therapy is recommended for 5 days. These drugs reduce the infection and limit its spread among people in close contact with the patient. Most infections are self-limiting, so antibiotic therapy is not required in those cases.

• Methods to combat infections using bacteriophages are being developed as well.

Surgical Care:

Surgical management is required if the complications of the infection develop, e.g., intestinal perforation.

Consultations:

• Consultation with a neurologist is recommended in case of seizures and other neurological symptoms such as confusion, memory loss, etc.
• Consultation with a nephrologist is recommended if complications like Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) occur.

Diet:

The patient is advised to drink plenty of fluids. Further restrictions on a diet are implemented if the infection is severe.

Physical activity:

No physical activity is restricted in the case of Shigellosis.

Prevention:

The risk of getting infected by Shigella can be decreased if some preventive measures are taken. They are some lifestyle modification habits as you may never know which bacteria contaminate water or food. They are:

• The single most critical method to reduce transmission is meticulous hand washing. Waterless hand sanitizers might be helpful in situations when access to clean water or soap is restricted.
• Ensure that all fruits and veggies be cleaned, peeled, and appropriately cooked when traveling to highly endemic areas.
• The person-to-person transfer is the most prevalent mode of infection in developed nations. Water polluted with human feces is the most prevalent cause of illness in underdeveloped nations.
• Encourage infants to nurse for longer periods since the incidence of infection is lower in breastfed children.

The following precautions can help prevent the transfer of Shigella species from person to person:

• Handwashing procedures are being introduced to families and child-care facility staff, especially after toilet use.
• Workers who change diapers at child-care centers should avoid meal preparation.
• Even after cooking, food should be handled with care and refrigerated.
• In institutions and hospitals, universal measures isolate those with diarrhea.
• Symptomatic children, customers, and employees with proven Shigella gastroenteritis should be kept out of child-care facilities until their diarrhea has subsided and two stool culture tests have come back negative for Shigella.
• If a kid using diapers has Shigellosis, everyone involved in changing the child’s diapers should make sure the diapers are correctly disposed of in a closed-lid disposal can and wash their hands and the child’s hands with soap and warm water upon changing the diapers. After each usage, sanitize the diaper changing area with a disinfectant.
• Exclusion of sick persons from working as food handlers and steps should be taken to reduce food contamination by house flies.
• People suffering from diarrhea caused by this waterborne disease should avoid recreational water for at least two weeks after their symptoms have subsided.
• Improved worker hygiene during the harvesting and packing of vegetables and fruits may help avoid Shigellosis from contaminated produce.
• Timely case reports to health departments are required to conduct preventative steps.

Vaccine:

No vaccine is currently available against Shigellosis. Studies are continued throughout the world to develop one as the vaccine will play a significant role in strengthening the immune system against the infection,

Prognosis:

The majority of individuals recover without therapy. However, the sickness lasts longer and is more severe if not treated.

• Within 24 hours, the fever subsides typically.
• Within 2-3 days, the frequency of stools reduces.
• Even without antibiotic therapy, the carrier condition typically ends within 4 weeks of disease onset, and a prolonged carrier state (>1 year) is uncommon.

Children who are severely malnourished and have Shigellosis, hypothermia, altered consciousness, hypoglycemia, or bronchopneumonia are at significant risk of dying.

Shigella is a bacterial family that includes various strains. Once you’ve had one form of Shigella infection, you’re unlikely to get another from the same bacteria. You might, however, get infected with a different bacteria from the same family.

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