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Conditions
Digestive diseases
Gastrointestinal disorders
GI infections
Dysentery

Dysentery

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Dysentery is a severe irritation of the digestive tract, causing stomach pain and diarrhea. This is usually caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, or small parasites.

Dr. Robert Kwok reviewed this

35 year experience in Pediatrics

Is a type of:

Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis) • GI infections

How long it usually lasts:

Chronic (lasts years to lifelong)

How common it is:

Common
Baby
0-2
Very common
Preteen
6-13
Very common
Teenager
14-18
Very common
Young adult
19-40
Very common
Middle-aged adult
41-60
Very common

How it can usually be treated?

Can be cured with medical treatment

How is it usually diagnosed?

Requires diagnosis by a medical professional

Body locations

Lower abdomen

Types of

Bacterial dysentery
Condition
Giardia infection
Condition
Viral dysentery
Condition
Amoebic dysentery
Condition

Symptoms

Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Passing gas
Stomach cramps
Load more

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Dysentery
Ciprofloxacin
3
9 reviews
Bismuth subsalicylate
2.8
8 reviews
Loperamide
2.7
7 reviews
Azithromycin
2.6
9 reviews
Antiparasite drug
Load more

Other treatments

Rehydration
Watchful waiting

Tests

Clostridium difficile toxin
Giardia antigen
Stool ova and parasite exam
Stool culture
Fecal occult blood
Load more

Risk factors

Personal

Recent travel
Eating raw meat
Contaminated food or water
Eating potentially contaminated fish

Related questions

A 35-year old asked:

Any way to cure dysentery?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

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How do you treat dysentery?

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Which insect cause dysentery?

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What is the cause of dysentery?

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Can you tell me about dysentery?

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What sort of disorder is dysentery?

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What are the symptoms of dysentery?

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A 47-year old asked:

What are the symptoms if you get dysentery?

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How can I address the symptoms of dysentery?

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A 43-year old asked:

Can you suggest where i can find dysentery reports?

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How to differentiate between schistosomal dysentery and e. histolityca dysentery ?

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A 38-year old asked:

How effective are IV fluids for treating dysentery?

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A 47-year old asked:

How effective is fluid replacement for treating dysentery?

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What are the histopathological changes in dysentery syndrome?

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A 40-year old asked:

Is it possible for a patient to ever be totally cured from dysentery?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

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How to get rid of chronic dysentery ?

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A 51-year old asked:

Can a gastroenterologist treat dysentery?

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A 31-year old female asked:

Home remedies for amoebic dysentery in toddlers..?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old female asked:

What is the right medication for amoebic dysentery?

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A 44-year old asked:

What's the difference between diarrhea and dysentery?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

What can be done to avoid contracting amoebic dysentery?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old male asked:

Dysentery in children below 2 years. What are the remedy and precautions to take?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 21-year old male asked:

How does thricuris dysentery syndrome differ from shigellosis and amebic dysentery!

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 33-year old asked:

Orange diarrhea, do I have dysentery?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 51-year old male asked:

Is zinc supplement helpful during and after dysentery?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 42-year old asked:

What method is used tp distinguish amoebic from bacillary dysentery?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A 31-year old asked:

Where was bacterial dysentery found?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 43-year old asked:

What are the tests for bacterial dysentery?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 44-year old asked:

Describe the features of bacterial dysentery.?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old asked:

How do you get bacterial dysentery?

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