Shigella enteritis

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Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Shigella enteritis is an acute infection of the lining of the intestines.

Shigellosis; Shigella gastroenteritis

Shigella enteritis is caused by the shigella bacteria. People infected with Shigella release the bacteria in their stool. The bacteria can spread from an infected person to contaminate water or food, or directly to another person. Getting just a little bit of the Shigella bacteria into your mouth is enough to cause disease.

Outbreaks of shigella enteritis are associated with poor sanitation, contaminated food and water, and crowded living conditions.

Shigella enteritis is common among travelers in developing countries and workers or residents of refugee camps. The time between exposure to the bacteria and symptoms is 1 to 7 days, with an average of 3 days.

Up to 40% of children with severe shigella enteritis develop febrile seizures or encephalopathy with headache, lethargy, confusion, and stiff neck (nuchal rigidity).

There are about 18,000 cases of shigella enteritis per year in the United States. The condition is most commonly seen in day care centers and similar places.

Review Date: 08/15/2006
Reviewed By: Hilary M. Babcock, M.D., Medical Director of Occupational Infection Control, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals; Instructor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.