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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffShigella infection usually clears up without complications, although it may take weeks or months before your bowel habits return to normal.
Complications may include:
- Dehydration. Persistent diarrhea can cause dehydration. Symptoms include lightheadedness, dizziness, lack of tears in children, sunken eyes and dry diapers. Severe dehydration can lead to shock and death.
- Seizures. Some children who run high fevers with a shigella infection have seizures. It's not known whether the convulsions are a result of the fever or the shigella infection itself. If your child has a seizure, contact your doctor immediately.
- Rectal prolapse. In this condition, straining during bowel movements may cause the rectal mucous membrane, or lining, to move out through the anus.
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome. This rare complication of shigella, more commonly caused by bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, can lead to a low red blood cell count (hemolytic anemia), low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) and acute kidney failure.
- Toxic megacolon. This rare complication occurs when your colon becomes paralyzed, preventing you from having a bowel movement or passing gas. Signs and symptoms include abdominal pain and swelling, fever, and weakness. If you don't receive treatment for toxic megacolon, your colon may rupture, causing peritonitis, a life-threatening condition requiring emergency surgery.
- Reiter syndrome. A form of reactive arthritis, Reiter syndrome develops in response to infection. Signs and symptoms of Reiter syndrome include joint pain and inflammation, usually in the ankles, knees, feet and hips; redness, itching and discharge in one or both eyes (conjunctivitis); and painful urination (urethritis).
References
- Goldberg MB. Shigellosis. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/184126838-3/954613481/1492/1159.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50335-9--cesec5_14340. Accessed Jan. 28, 2010.
- Shigellosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdcc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/shigellosis_gi.html. Accessed Jan. 28, 2010.
- Ashkenazi S, et al. Shigella species. In: Long SS, et al. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/184126838-3/954613481/1679/151.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50150-8_2975. Accessed Jan. 28, 2010.
- Fort GG, et al. Shigellosis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/184126838-3/954613481/2088/602.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00028-9--s2235_12359. Accessed Jan. 28, 2010.
- Gianella RA. Invasive pathogens. In: Feldman M., et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/184126838-3/954613481/1389/778.html#. Accessed Jan. 28, 2010.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 3, 2010.
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