7.3
Bacillary Dysentery
Malawi Standard Treatment Guidelines, 6th Edition, 2023. Chapter 7, Gastrointestinal Conditions.
Clinical Description
- Bloody and mucoid diarrhoea caused by Shigella species
- Alternative names: dysentery, shigellosis
Signs and Symptoms
- Bloody and mucoid diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
Investigations
- FBC
- Stool microscopy
Non-pharmacological
- Health education on handwashing with soap, food hygiene, appropriate disposal of faeces
- Isolate the patient
- Hygiene precautions by all in contact with the patient
- Investigate source of contamination and inform environmental healthauthorities
Pharmacological
Use antibiotics only if the patient is systemically unwell, septic or immunosuppressed
Adults
- Ciprofloxacin 500mg PO 12 hourly for 5 days
Children
- Ciprofloxacin 10mg/kg PO 12 hourly for 5 days
Check doses against the printed guideline and your clinical judgement before treating a patient. Spotted an error? Report it from the contact links below.
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