Dysentery

Introduction 

The shigella bacteria is the cause of dysentery 

Food and water safety abroad

Many illnesses, such as travellers’ diarrhoea, are caught from contaminated food and water. Find out how to protect yourself

Dysentery is an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus. 

Diarrhoea is the passing of three or more watery stools a day. Other symptoms of dysentery include:

stomach cramps

nausea (feeling sick)

vomiting

In the UK, most people who get dysentery only experience mild symptoms, such as diarrhoea and nausea. 

Read more about the symptoms of dysentery.

When to see your GP

It is not always necessary to see a GP because dysentery often clears up within a few days.

However, see your GP if you have diarrhoea containing blood or mucus that last longer than a few days. Tell them if you have recently been abroad, particularly if it was to a country with poor sanitation.

Treatment is not always needed, but it is important to drink plenty of fluids to replace those that have been lost through diarrhoea.

Dysentery is a notifiable disease. This means that if a GP diagnoses the condition, they must inform the local authority.