Shigella: The bacteria that took the life of a 16-year-old girl
Recently, a 16-year-old girl succumbed and 30 more people were hospitalised due to a severe food poisoning incident that happened at Kasaragod in Kerala. Following this, Kerala’s health department declared that the cause of this unfortunate food poisoning was none other than a bacteria named Shigella. This was revealed when the blood and faeces of the diagnosed people were tested. According to several reports, all of these people had eaten chicken shawarma from a food outlet at Cheruvathur in Kasagorad a week ago. This food, it is believed, was the harbour for Shigella. Here is all you need to know about this bacterium.
What is Shigella?
This is a bacterium of the Enterobacter family, a group of bacteria that can be found in human intestines. Under normal circumstances, they are not fatal. However, Shigella has the power to spread fast and it can cause infection even in small amounts. In rare circumstances, as with the 16-year-old in Kerala, the antibiotics fail to stop the pathogen. This is when the Shigella bacteria starts producing toxins that affect all other organs including the kidney. This is what causes seizures, multi-organ failure and even death.
Types of Shigella bacteria
There are primarily four types of Shigella bacteria.
Shigella sonnei: It causes 90 per cent of Shigellosis cases and lasts for about 1-2 days, without the need for antibiotics.
Shigella flexneri: It lasts for about a week and requires antibiotic course (3rd day onwards) in case of continued stomach cramps.
Shigella boydii: It only affects toddlers and is mainly caused by contact with contaminated surfaces. It lasts for 10 days and requires strong antibiotic courses.
Shigella dysenteriae: It is the most severe form of Shigella bacteria and results in bloody faeces (more than 10 times a day) accompanied by high fever and nonstop vomiting. It can turn fatal if not diagnosed early on.
Symptoms of Shigella infection
Shigella infection, also known as Shigellosis, is mainly food or water-borne and affects human beings when they consume contaminated food items, such as unwashed fruits and vegetables. They can also get infected if they swim or bathe in impure water. The primary symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach upset and fever. Shigellosis mainly affects children under the age of five and pregnant women as they have weaker immune system.
Line of treatment
According to experts, Shigella is a self-limiting bacterium. However, antibiotics are required to reduce the severity of symptoms and prevent transmission. Alongside oral medication, people affected by this bacterium need to maintain healthy hydration levels.