Where are Shigella bacteria found?
Shigella can be found in the intestinal tract of infected people who in turn may contaminate food or water. How do these bacteria spread? Shigella bacteria are spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by direct contact with an infected person. Infection may occur after ingestion of very few (10-100) organisms. Who gets shigellosis? Anyone can get shigellosis, but it is recognized more often in young children. Those who may be at greater risk include children in day care centers, foreign travelers to certain countries, institutionalized people, and active homosexuals. What are the symptoms of shigellosis? People infected with Shigella may experience mild or severe diarrhea often with fever, nausea, and sometimes cramps and vomiting. Traces of blood or mucous in the stool can be found in typical cases. Some infected people may show mild illness or no symptoms. How soon do symptoms appear? The symptoms usually appear 1 3 days after exposure (range 12 96 hours). How long
