where is dysentery most common
Preventing Dysentery. Dysentery is an inflammation of the intestines that causes severe, painful diarrhea. The bacterial form of dysentery, shigellosis, is caused by Shigella bacteria (shigellosis is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in the United States). Amebiasis, which is sometimes called amebic dysentery, is much less common and is caused by the one-celled Entamoeba histolytica parasite. Both shigellosis and amebiasis are marked by severe, sometimes bloody, diarrhea; fever; and stomach cramps.