Shigella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shigella |
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| Photomicrograph of Shigella sp. in a stool specimen | |
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Shigella
Castellani & Chalmers 1919
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S. boydii |
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Shigella is a type of tiny living thing called a bacterium. These bacteria are so small you need a microscope to see them! Shigella is known for making people sick, especially by causing a sudden and strong tummy ache called diarrhea. It belongs to a group of germs that can infect your gut even if only a few of them get inside your body. Other germs in this group include E. coli and Salmonella.
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What is Shigella?
Shigella is a genus, which is like a family name, for several types of bacteria. These bacteria are pathogens. A pathogen is a germ that can cause disease. Shigella bacteria are often found in the intestines of humans and other primates.
How Shigella Makes You Sick
When someone swallows Shigella bacteria, these tiny germs travel to their intestines. Once there, they can cause an infection. This infection can lead to symptoms like:
- Stomach cramps
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea, which can sometimes be severe
The illness caused by Shigella is called shigellosis. It can make people feel very unwell.
Types of Shigella
There are four main types, or species, of Shigella that can make people sick:
- S. boydii
- S. dysenteriae
- S. flexneri
- S. sonnei
Each of these types can cause similar symptoms. However, S. dysenteriae can sometimes cause a more serious form of the illness.
How Shigella Spreads
Shigella spreads very easily from person to person. It is often passed through something called the "fecal-oral route." This means that tiny amounts of poop from an infected person can get into someone else's mouth.
Common Ways It Spreads
- Contaminated food or water: If someone with Shigella doesn't wash their hands well after using the bathroom, they can touch food or water. Then, if someone else eats or drinks that contaminated item, they can get sick.
- Direct contact: Touching surfaces or objects that an infected person has touched, especially in places like daycares or schools, can spread the bacteria.
- Swimming: If water in a swimming pool or lake is contaminated with Shigella, people can swallow the water and get sick.
Because it spreads so easily, outbreaks of shigellosis can happen quickly in places where many people are together. This includes schools, daycares, and nursing homes.
Preventing Shigella Infection
The best way to avoid getting sick from Shigella is to practice good hygiene. This means keeping yourself and your surroundings clean.
Important Prevention Tips
- Wash your hands often: Always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Do this especially after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food.
- Clean surfaces: Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces that people touch often, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Be careful with food: Make sure food is cooked properly. Avoid eating food that might have been prepared by someone who is sick.
- Avoid swimming when sick: If you have diarrhea, do not go swimming. This helps protect others from getting sick.
- Drink safe water: Only drink water that you know is clean and safe.
By following these simple steps, you can help protect yourself and others from Shigella and other germs.
See also
In Spanish: Shigella para niños
