What causes shigellosis?
Shigellosis is spread when the bacteria in feces (stool) or on soiled fingers are ingested. Poor hand-washing habits and eating contaminated food may cause the condition. Shigellosis is often found in day care centers, nursing homes, refugee camps, and other places where conditions are crowded and sanitation is poor. • Shigellosis is likely to occur among toddlers who are not fully toilet trained. Family members and playmates of infected children are also at high risk of becoming infected. • Food may become contaminated by infected food handlers who do not wash their hands with soap after using the bathroom. • Vegetables can be contaminated if they are harvested from a field with sewage in it. Also, flies can breed in infected feces and then contaminate food. • Shigellosis can result from drinking or swimming in contaminated water; water may become contaminated if sewage runs into it or if someone with shigellosis swims in it. • Shigellosis also can be spread through sex, especially th
