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My Wife Has Been Found To Have Shiga Toxin In
Question: My Wife has been found to have Shiga Toxin in her stool. Symptoms have decreased over 4 days now, and she still has occasional cramping and frequent bowel movements although she is eating little (bland) and drinking a lot of water. What steps should she expect to require at this point? I Also need some specific questions answered:
1. Is she contagious, and if so, to what degree - can she be at work?
2. Should she require any medications or hospitalization?
3. What symptoms should she be mindful of that will either indicate she is improving or getting worse?
1. Is she contagious, and if so, to what degree - can she be at work?
2. Should she require any medications or hospitalization?
3. What symptoms should she be mindful of that will either indicate she is improving or getting worse?
My Wife has been found to have Shiga Toxin in her stool. Symptoms have decreased over 4 days now, and she still has occasional cramping and frequent bowel movements although she is eating little (bland) and drinking a lot of water. What steps should she expect to require at this point? I Also need some specific questions answered:
1. Is she contagious, and if so, to what degree - can she be at work?
2. Should she require any medications or hospitalization?
3. What symptoms should she be mindful of that will either indicate she is improving or getting worse?
1. Is she contagious, and if so, to what degree - can she be at work?
2. Should she require any medications or hospitalization?
3. What symptoms should she be mindful of that will either indicate she is improving or getting worse?
Brief Answer:
decreasing frequency signals improvement
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using 'Ask A Doctor' service.
Shigella is contagious, like other bacteria or viruses that affect the gastrointestinal tract to cause diarrhea and/or vomiting.
It is spread hand to mouth, this is the reason that careful hand washing and cleaning of surfaces need to be done to prevent infection of others.
Cannot be at work as long as diarrhea persists.
If the diarrhea is decreasing, then hospitalization is not needed. Hospitalization is needed for persons who may be very dehydrated and weak from the fluid loss.
Antibiotics are used to help treat the infection in severe cases eg if the diarrhea is bloody or persistent/severe.
It is important to replace the fluids that she is losing with diarrhea, this prevents electrolyte disturbance and dehydration.
Oral hydration solutions or dilute sports drinks can be used. Probiotics can also help some persons with diarrhea.
Improvement-
A decrease in the frequency of bowel movements and any cramping, increased appetite
If diarrhea worsens then it means that the infection is not improving and she may need to be assessed.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
decreasing frequency signals improvement
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using 'Ask A Doctor' service.
Shigella is contagious, like other bacteria or viruses that affect the gastrointestinal tract to cause diarrhea and/or vomiting.
It is spread hand to mouth, this is the reason that careful hand washing and cleaning of surfaces need to be done to prevent infection of others.
Cannot be at work as long as diarrhea persists.
If the diarrhea is decreasing, then hospitalization is not needed. Hospitalization is needed for persons who may be very dehydrated and weak from the fluid loss.
Antibiotics are used to help treat the infection in severe cases eg if the diarrhea is bloody or persistent/severe.
It is important to replace the fluids that she is losing with diarrhea, this prevents electrolyte disturbance and dehydration.
Oral hydration solutions or dilute sports drinks can be used. Probiotics can also help some persons with diarrhea.
Improvement-
A decrease in the frequency of bowel movements and any cramping, increased appetite
If diarrhea worsens then it means that the infection is not improving and she may need to be assessed.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
decreasing frequency signals improvement
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using 'Ask A Doctor' service.
Shigella is contagious, like other bacteria or viruses that affect the gastrointestinal tract to cause diarrhea and/or vomiting.
It is spread hand to mouth, this is the reason that careful hand washing and cleaning of surfaces need to be done to prevent infection of others.
Cannot be at work as long as diarrhea persists.
If the diarrhea is decreasing, then hospitalization is not needed. Hospitalization is needed for persons who may be very dehydrated and weak from the fluid loss.
Antibiotics are used to help treat the infection in severe cases eg if the diarrhea is bloody or persistent/severe.
It is important to replace the fluids that she is losing with diarrhea, this prevents electrolyte disturbance and dehydration.
Oral hydration solutions or dilute sports drinks can be used. Probiotics can also help some persons with diarrhea.
Improvement-
A decrease in the frequency of bowel movements and any cramping, increased appetite
If diarrhea worsens then it means that the infection is not improving and she may need to be assessed.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
decreasing frequency signals improvement
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using 'Ask A Doctor' service.
Shigella is contagious, like other bacteria or viruses that affect the gastrointestinal tract to cause diarrhea and/or vomiting.
It is spread hand to mouth, this is the reason that careful hand washing and cleaning of surfaces need to be done to prevent infection of others.
Cannot be at work as long as diarrhea persists.
If the diarrhea is decreasing, then hospitalization is not needed. Hospitalization is needed for persons who may be very dehydrated and weak from the fluid loss.
Antibiotics are used to help treat the infection in severe cases eg if the diarrhea is bloody or persistent/severe.
It is important to replace the fluids that she is losing with diarrhea, this prevents electrolyte disturbance and dehydration.
Oral hydration solutions or dilute sports drinks can be used. Probiotics can also help some persons with diarrhea.
Improvement-
A decrease in the frequency of bowel movements and any cramping, increased appetite
If diarrhea worsens then it means that the infection is not improving and she may need to be assessed.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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