Shigella infection (shigellosis) is an intestinal disease caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella.

Shigella infection (shigellosis) is an intestinal disease caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella.

Shigella infection (shigellosis) is an intestinal disease caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella.

A new shigella death has been reported from Kozhikode in Kerala. This comes two months after a deadly nipah sweep claimed 17 lives in the north Kerala districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram. Here is all about shigella:

What is shigella

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Shigella infection (shigellosis) is an intestinal disease caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella.

How does the infection spread

It spreads through direct contact with bacteria in the stool.

Eg: Shigella can spread in child care settings if staff members do not wash hands properly after helping children in the washroom or after changing diapers.

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Who gets infected

Children in the 2-4 age group gets infected most.

A mild infection clears off in a week or so, says the website of the Mayo Clinic

Symptoms

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Shigella symptoms start in a day.

It may take a week to develop

Prominent signs include diarrhoea (often containing blood or mucus),

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