Dysentery refers to a serious condition affecting the large intestine. It is characterised by inflammation and ulceration of the bowel, a colic pain in the region of the abdomen and passing of liquid or semi-formed stools with mucus and blood. The disease is prevalent all over the world, except in very cold countries.<\/p>\n
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Dysentery is caused by two organisms, protozoa and bacilli. The former is generally known as amoebic dysentery and the later as bacillary dysentery. An attack of amoebic dysentery is milder in comparison with bacillary dysentery. But while bacillary dysentery can respond quickly to treatment, amoebic dysentery does not leave the patient easily, unless he is careful.<\/p>\n
Symptoms<\/span><\/p>\n Dysentery may be acute or chronic. The acute form is characterised by pain in the abdomen, diarrhoea and dysenteric motions. The patient passes yellowish white mucus and sometimes only blood with stools. He feels a constant desire to evacuate, although there may be nothing to throw off except a little mucus and blood. As the disease advances, the quantity of mucus and blood increases.<\/p>\n Occasionally, casts or shred of skin-like mucous membrane, from small fragments to 12 inches or so long and an inch wide, are seen to pass out with motions. Often the smell of the stools becomes very foetid. All the digestive processes are upset and the stomach loses power to digest and absorb food.<\/p>\n Chronic cases are after-effects of acute attacks. The patient does not recover completely. Stool remains putrid and may contain blood, while diarrhoea and constipation may alternate, and general health is disturbed. In severe cases, the temperature may rise to 104-105″F. It may occasionally become subnormal also.<\/p>\n Causes<\/span><\/p>\n The cause of dysentery is said to be germ infection. The germs, which are supposed to cause this disease develop in the colon only as a result of putrefaction there of excessive quantities of animal protein food, fried substances, too-spiced foods and hard-to-digest fatty substances. The real cause of dysentery is thus dietary indiscretion and eating of excessive amounts of flesh food in hot weather or tropical climate unsuited to the digestion of such foods. Other causes include debility, fatigue, chill, lowered vitality, intestinal disorders and overcrowding under insanitary conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dysentery refers to a serious condition affecting the large intestine. It is characterised by inflammation and ulceration of the bowel, a colic pain in the region of the abdomen and passing of liquid or semi-formed stools with mucus and blood. The disease is prevalent all over the world, except in very cold countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diet-remedies"],"yoast_head":"\n