This disease is caused by ingesting small amounts of several strains of the Shigella bacteria. Individuals primarily responsible for transmission are those who fail to clean hands thoroughly and scrub under the fingernails after defecation, and then infect others directly by physical contact or indirectly by contaminating food. They usually appear 12 to 96 hours after ingesting the bacteria. They are characterized by diarrhea accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting and cramps. Convulsions may occur in young children.
Illness usually lasts several days to weeks, with an average of four to seven days.
Most of the deaths occur in children under 10. Prevention Shigellosis can best be prevented by vigorously washing hands with soap and water after defecation, and by using general sanitation measures when handling food, water and milk. Humans are the principal source of the staph responsible for this illness. The bacteria are found in up to 60 percent of people's noses and in the throat, on the skin and hair and in the feces. They also are concentrated in human and animal infections.