Dysentery

The main symptom of dysentery is diarrhoea with blood and sometimes mucus (clear slime) in it.

You may also have:

• tummy pain
• a high temperature

You may need antibiotics to treat dysentery, depending on what's causing it.

You'll need to give a poo sample to find out the cause.

If your symptoms are severe, you may need treatment in hospital.

Dysentery usually gets better by itself within 7 days. The most important thing is to prevent dehydration.

After seeing a GP, there are things you can do to help your recovery.

You should:

• drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, so that you regularly pee during the day and do not feel thirsty
• use oral rehydration sachets you mix with water to make a drink
• eat when you feel able to – you do not need to avoid any foods

Do not use anti-diarrhoea medicine if you have dysentery.

Dysentery spreads through infected poo.

You can get it from:

• eating food or drink that's been handled by a person with dysentery
• drinking unclean water, especially when travelling abroad
• having oral or anal sex with a person with dysentery

You can help reduce your chance of catching or spreading dysentery by:

• washing your hands with soap and water regularly, especially after using the toilet and before preparing food or eating
• washing clothes, towels or bedding with poo on them on a hot wash
• cleaning toilet seats, flush handles, taps and door handles every day
• using a condom on the penis, or a dental dam on the anus during oral sex
• staying off work, nursery or school until 48 hours after the diarrhoea stops

Avoiding dysentery when travelling

If you’re travelling in places without a clean water supply, there are ways to reduce your risk of getting dysentery.

• only drink bottled water or tap water that's been boiled

• brush your teeth using bottled or boiled water

• wash your hands with soap and water after going to the toilet and before eating or preparing food

• do not eat ice cream or have ice in your drinks

• do not eat uncooked fruit and vegetables (including salads) that you have not washed with bottled or boiled water and prepared yourself

Diarrhoea with blood and mucus (clear slime) in it is the main symptom of dysentery. Other symptoms can include a high temperature and tummy pain.

Depending on the cause of your dysentery, you may need treatment with antibiotics. If the symptoms are severe, treatment may be given in hospital.

If you have dysentery, avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water and using oral rehydration sachets. Do not use anti-diarrhoea medicine.

Dysentery is passed on if you get infected poo in your mouth. This can happen through unclean water, food or oral or anal sex.

To help prevent getting or spreading dysentery, wash your hands regularly with soap and water and only drink bottled or boiled water when travelling.