Dysentery is a disease affecting the intestines resulting to severe diarrhea with mucus and blood in the stool usually as a result of water contaminated with micro-organisms causing substantial intestinal lining inflammation.

Stool analysis can determine presence of bacteria causing dysentery. Ultrasound may be recommended for severe dysentery with suspicions of damage like ulcer.

Drinking plenty of fluid is essential to replenish fluid loss during diarrhea and vomiting. In severe cases when hospitalization is required, fluid replacement is done intravenously. Antibiotic is administered only if dysentery does not heal by itself. Metronidazole is often prescribed by the doctor for amoebic dysentery.

Symptoms of dysentery include frequent and loose stool that often comes with associated vomiting. Stools may show traces of mucus, pus and in some cases blood. Fever, abdominal pain and nausea may also be present in individuals infected with dysentery. Loss of appetite and distended abdomen may also develop.

Causes of dysentery include viral or bacterial infection and infestation of parasitic worms. One of the common cause of dysentery is not washing the hands after using a public toilet; spread from person to person and through contaminated food usually occurring in places with insufficient sanitation systems.