What is Shigella, the bacteria that killed a girl after she ate shawarma in Kerala?
- May 6, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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What is Shigella, the bacteria that killed a girl after she ate shawarma in Kerala?
Subject: Science and Technology
Section: Disease
Context: ‘Food poisoning is fairly common and can occur in a range of situations which may be fatal if not treated on time’
Concept:
What is Shigella?
- Shigella infection, also called shigellosis, is a condition that affects your digestive system.
- It is a bacterium that belongs to the enterobacter family — a group of bacteria that reside in the intestine, not all of which cause disease in humans. It mainly affects the intestine and results in diarrhoea, sometimes bloody, stomach pain, and fever.
What are the causes of Shigella?
- According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the infection spreads easily as it takes only a small number of bacteria to make someone ill.
- It is a food- and water-borne infection and can happen when someone consumes contaminated food, unwashed fruit or vegetables.
- By direct or indirect contact with the excrement of the patient.
- Swimming or taking bath in contaminated water.
How widespread is Shigella infection?
- Shigellosis is not a very common infection. We usually see infections like typhoid and cholera because of contaminated foods.Appear to be exacerbated during pregnancy and in children under five years of age, and in those with weakened immune systems.
Types of Shigella bacteria that affect humans —
- Shigella sonnei
- Shigella flexneri
- Shigella boydii a
- Shigella dysenteriae (Causes the most severe disease because of the toxin it produces.)
Treatment Management of Shigella
Infection does not generally kill unless the patient has a weak immune system or the pathogen is resistant to the antibiotics that are prescribed.
It is a very treatable condition; if a patient reaches the hospital on time they can effectively be treated using IV antibiotics,
Risks associated with Shigella
- When the antibiotics do not work because the bacteria are resistant to them.
- Shigella produces a lot of toxins that can affect all other organs. So, if the bacteria continue to proliferate in the body even after giving the antibiotics, it will continue to produce toxins, which can then affect the kidney, cause seizures, lead to multi-organ failure, and shock, and even turn fatal.
- The mortality of the infection is less than 1%
Preventives measure
- To prevent a Shigella infection, it is the same as that of any other food- and water-borne infection.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before and after a meal.
- Wash your hands properly after a bowel movement.
- Ensure the water that you drink is clean and the fruits and vegetables are fresh.
- Visit the doctor and follow the instructions and medications as prescribed.