What is dysentery?
Dysentery is the inflammation of the intestines, characterized by frequent passage of feces, usually with blood and mucus. Amoebic dysentery is caused by infestation by the ameba Entamoeba histolytica. Bacillary dysentery is most often caused by the Shigella bacillus. Spread by fecal contamination of food and water, both forms are common where sanitation is poor. Treatment of bacillary dysentery is with a broad-spectrum antibiotic; a combination of an antibiotic and an amoebicide is necessary for successful treatment of amoebic dysentery.
