Shigellosis is a bacterial infection affecting the intestinal tract.
It is a fairly common disease usually seen in the summer and early fall and may occur as single cases or outbreaks. Anyone can get shigellosis but it is recognized more often in young children. Those at greater risk include children in day care centers, foreign travelers to certain countries, and persons living in institutions. An infected person may contaminate food or water. For example, infected persons can spread Shigella by not washing their hands after going to the bathroom and then handling food that other people will eat.