Dysentery
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Dysentery is an illness (formerly known as the bloody flux or simply flux) involving severe diarrhea that is often associated with blood in the feces. It is caused by ingestion of food containing microorganisms, causing a disease in which inflammation of the intestines affect the body significantly. There are two major types: shigellosis, which is caused by one of several types of Shigella bacteria; and amoebic dysentery, which is caused by the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica. Kiyoshi Shiga discovered the dysentery bacteria in 1898.
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[edit] Etiology
[edit] Shigellosis
A patient with shigellosis will often recover without antibiotic treatment. However, treatment by antibiotics is usually recommended because the disease is relatively severe, and it is highly contagious. It can be transmitted by "fomites", for example clothes, doorknobs, toilet seats, etc. The antibiotics norfloxacin, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole may be used. Hospitalization may be required if the disease becomes serious.
See shigellosis for more information.
[edit] Amoebic dysentery
Amoebic dysentery is transmitted by contaminated water, and is well known as a "traveler's dysentery" because of its prevalence in developing nations, or "Montezuma's Revenge" (particularly in Mexico), although it is occasionally seen in industrialized countries. Liver infection, and subsequent amoebic abscesses can occur. It can be treated with metronidazole or related azole drugs.
[edit] Symptoms
The main symptom of epidemic dysentery is bloody diarrhea. Other common symptoms include abdominal cramps, fever and rectal pain. Less frequent complications can include a form of blood poisoning known as sepsis, seizure and kidney failure.
Tiny organisms are spread through contaminated food and water when either is swallowed. From ingestion, they move into the intestines via the stomach. Amoebae spread by forming infective cysts which can be found in stools and spread if whoever touches it does not wash their hands. There are also free amoebae, or “trophozoites”, that do not form cysts. Symptoms are most likely to appear in places with poor hygiene.
[edit] Treatment
In adults, dysentery caused by bacteria usually subsides spontaneously. But in children, and other vulnerable groups, the condition can be treated with antibiotics. However, Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (Sd1) has, in recent years, become increasingly resistant to drug treatments. Among people who have become dehydrated as a result of the disease, the key is to replenish their fluid stocks as quickly as possible. This can be done using oral rehydration salts or intravenous fluids. Amoebic dysentery is usually treated with a combination of drugs. These include an amoebicide to kill the parasite, an antibiotic to treat any associated bacterial infection, and a drug to combat infection of the liver and other tissues.
[edit] Indigenous Treatment
The indigenous Oaxaca Chontal of the Mexican state of Oaxaca employed the plant Calea zacatechichi, also known as Dream Herb, Bitter Grass, as a cathartic anti-dysentery remedy.[1]
[edit] Cultural significance
Dysentery was the cause of death of:
- Epicurus, the Greek philosopher (270 B.C.).
- Gan Ning, an important general of the Wu kingdom (218).
- Liu Bei, first emperor of the kingdom Shu Han (223).
- King John of England (1216)
- King Louis VIII of France (1226)
- King Louis IX of France (1270)
- King Henry V of England (1422)
- Nathaniel Bacon (1676)
- Sir Francis Drake (1596).
- Juana María, "The Lost Woman of San Nicolas" (1853).
- Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled China until 1908.
- Countless pioneers of the Oregon Trail
- Texas Guinan, (1933), famous Vaudeville star, Silent Film actress, and speakeasy proprietor during Prohibition,i.e. the "300 Club." Greeted her patrons with "Hello suckers!"
- Many victims of concentration camps in World War II. Some Allied POWs also fell victim to dysentery at the hands of the Japanese Empire, especially those involved in the construction of what has become known as the Death Railway.
- Many of the captured soldiers at Andersonville Prison during the civil war.
According to the Maltese traditions Saint Paul cured the father of Saint Publius from this disease.
[edit] References
- ^ Psychopharmacologic Analysis of an Alleged Oneirogenic Plant Calea zacatechichi L Mayagoitia, JL Diaz, CM Contreras, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 18 (1986) 229-243 Eleavier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd
