Shigellosis is a bacterial infection of the intestines. It is highly contagious and can cause severe infections requiring hospitalization.

Illness usually begins 1 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria and may last 4 to 7 days.
Symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea - watery and/or bloody
• Fever
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe cases may cause dehydration (i.e. loss of fluids) or convulsions in young
• Sometimes people have few or no symptoms at all but can still pass the bacteria to others.

• Shigella is found in the stool (bowel movement) of infected persons.
• It spreads when hands, food, water or objects (toys, etc.) become contaminated with the stool of an infected person and then get into someone else`s mouth (e.g. when an infected person does not wash hands well after using the bathroom).
• Swallowing recreational water contaminated with Shigella (e.g. lakes, rivers, swimming pools).
• Not washing hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers.

Anyone can get shigellosis but the following are at greater risk of being infected:

• Children in day care centers
• Family members and playmates of children infected with Shigella
• Travelers to certain foreign countries
• Institutionalized people
• Men having sex with men

• Do not send your child to daycare or preschool if he or she has diarrhea.
• Don’t go to work if you are a healthcare worker, food handler or a daycare worker.
• Contact your healthcare provider.
• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid preparing food for others.

• Shigella is identified from a stool culture test.

• In some cases antibiotics may be prescribed.
• Persons with milder illness may recover on their own.
• Anti-diarrhea medications should not be used to treat Shigella infection.

• Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds:
• After using the bathroom
• After changing diapers
• Before eating
• Before preparing food


• Wash your hands more often when someone in the household is sick.
• Supervise/assist children to be sure they are properly washing their hands.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces immediately after vomiting or diarrheal accidents.
• Properly dispose of soiled diapers.
• People with diarrhea should not use public swimming areas until one week after symptoms end.