What Is Dysentery?

Dysentery is severe diarrhea, characterized by bloody poop. It's caused by contact with microorganisms and can be spread from person to person.

January 17, 2025 · 5 min · 983 words · Alison Stephens

Table of Contents

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Dysentery?Dysentery Symptoms and TypesCausesDiagnosis and TreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Dysentery?

Dysentery Symptoms and Types

Causes

Diagnosis and Treatment

Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

Although dysentery was more common historically, people still get dysentery today. About half a million people in the United States get dysentery each year.

Here’s what you should know about the signs of dysentery, and when to get medical attention.

Verywell / Laura Porter

Rare complications fromShigellainfection includereactive arthritis, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and seizures in young children. Shigella infection can also cause damage to the intestinal lining, which may lead to bacterial infection of the blood.

The symptoms of amebiasis appear 2-4 weeks or more after exposure to the parasite.They include:

Dysentery is most common in warm climates and in places where it’s difficult to follow proper sanitation guidelines, including handwashing. The condition is most common in people who live in or travel to these areas, including central and south America and Africa.

In the United States, dysentery is also most common along people who don’t have access to proper sanitation, most importantly clean water. People who lack resources like proper plumbing or who live in institutions like nursing homes with fewer resources can be at increased risk for dysentery in the United States.

Dysentery in the developed world, including the United States, is also most common in men who have sex with men.Both forms of dysentery can pass through anal and oral-anal sex, which could explain why outbreaks in developed countries have been linked to men who have sex with men.

People who have a compromised immune system—including those on immunosuppressive medications, or are undergoing chemotherapy or have HIV—are at increased risk of contracting dysentery.

How Dysentery Is Spread

Person-to-person transmission of dysentery is also common. This happens when a person’s mouth comes into contact with particles of poop from a person who is already infected with dysentery. This is easier than it may sound. If someone with the condition doesn’t wash their hands properly, they may have fecal matter on their fingers. Anything they touch, like food or a cup, can then become infected.

Because dysentery can be spread through contact with fecal matter, the condition can also be spread through anal and oral-anal sex.

The treatment for dysentery will depend on what type you contract. Your healthcare provider will ask you about your symptoms and recent travel, if any. They will usually send a stool sample to the lab to determine whether you have dysentery and what type.

Shigella can resolve on its own. People with shigella can use over-the-counter treatments like Pepto Bismol, but shouldn’t use medication, like Imodium, that can slow the movement of the intestines. It’s important to get plenty of rest and hydration while you have shigella.

In some cases, shigella will be treated with an antibiotic. Unfortunately, some strains of the bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, so your healthcare provider will have to determine whether this is an option for you.

Amebiasis often requires treatment with antibiotics, even if you don’t develop symptoms. You might need two different types of antibiotics.

There are two schools of thought for preventing dysentery. The first to be aware of is reducing risk for contracting the disease in the first place. This is particularly important for people who are traveling to areas that have a higher rate of dysentery.

To reduce your risk for contracting dysentery while traveling to tropical, developing countries, you must be aware of what you’re eating and drinking. The CDC has the following recommendations:

In order to prevent the person-to-person transmission of dysentery when someone has been diagnosed with the condition, take the following precautions:

A Word From Verywell

Dysentery is an uncomfortable and scary condition. However, most people in the United States are at a very low risk for contracting dysentery. By taking proper precautions, including hand washing, you can further reduce your risk of contracting the condition or having serious complications. If you’re worried that you may be suffering from dysentery, contact your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Dysentery is commonly treated with antibiotics, although it sometimes resolves on its own. Over-the-counter medicines containing bismuth subsalicylate, such as Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate, may help relieve dysentery symptoms. However, medications containing loperamide, such as Imodium, can interfere with movement of the intestines and should be avoided.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.Dysentery.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shigella infection.Rogers, Kara.Dysentery.Britannica.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of shigella infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About amebiasis.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.Dysentery.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shigella infection.Rogers, Kara.Dysentery.Britannica.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of shigella infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About amebiasis.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

World Health Organization.Dysentery.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shigella infection.Rogers, Kara.Dysentery.Britannica.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of shigella infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About amebiasis.

World Health Organization.Dysentery.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shigella infection.

Rogers, Kara.Dysentery.Britannica.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of shigella infection.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About amebiasis.

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