YOUR HEALTH

DYSENTERY

Dysentery is defined as the passage of blood and excessive mucus in stool. If it usually associated with abdominal pain and diarrhea although these may be absent. There are two main groups of micro-organisms causing dysentery.

These are:                1.     Bacteria like the shigella organisms and

2.     Protozoa especially Entamoeba histolytica (belonging to the Amoeba group studied in secondary school Biology).

MODE OF ENTRY

These organisms usually enter into the body through eating with unwashed hands, eating improperly cooked foods like vegetables or unwashed fruits and sometimes through drinking contaminated water. Contamination of uncovered food by this and eating badly-preserved foods which have been cooked for a long time also form important ways of acquiring dysentery causing organisms.

PRODUCTION OF DISEASE

The ingested organisms when swallowed pass through the stomach into the intestines. Invasion of the intestinal wall and their resulting information leads to sloughing of the inner most layers, leading to the bloody mucous stool observed. Excessive contraction of the intestinal muscles given rise to the abdominal pain and the diarrhea frequently observed.

TREATMENT

Most cases of dysentery are due to bacteria, the first group mentioned above. This is usually treated by gut anti-bacterial drugs like Thalazole, mexaform and Entero-Sediu to name a few. The usual adult dose is four tablets immediately followed by four times a day usually for two to three days: children take doses proportional to their ages. Dysentery due to protozoa do not respond to this simple treatment and must be treated by a qualified medical personnel. So if the features of dysentery persist after the above treatment you must go to the hospital immediately.

PREVENTION

This is very important as it would save you from not only dysentery but all the other diseases borne very deadly acquired through eating germs e.g. Typhoid Fever, Cholera, and so on.

TO AVOID DYSENTRY

Ø Wash hands after going to the toilet and always before eating.

Ø Avoid putting fingers or other objects in your mouth.

Ø Wash freh fruits like mangoes well before eating

Ø Do not defecate in open places; all human feces must be well disposed off and kept away from flies.

Ø Keep all foods well covered

Ø Don’t eat foods cooked for a long time except if well-preserved in a refrigerator.