Contact Us
For more information, please contact the Oral Health, Communicable Disease and Sexual Health Services Division:
- 519-663-5317 Ext. 2330
Promoting and protecting your health and that of your family, neighbours and community
What is Shigella infection? Shigella are bacteria that can make you sick if they get into your mouth. The sickness starts about a day to two days after the Shigella bacteria gets into your mouth. You might be sick for about five to seven days. See a doctor if you think you are sick from Shigella. Ask that your diarrhea be tested for Shigella.
For more information, please contact the Oral Health, Communicable Disease and Sexual Health Services Division:
Symptoms start a day to two days after the Shigella bacteria gets into your mouth. Symptoms can include:
See a doctor if you think you are sick from Shigella. Ask that your diarrhea be tested for Shigella.
Persons with mild Shigella infection usually recover quickly without medicine. However, in severe cases, medicines may kill Shigella bacteria, and may shorten illness by a few days. Use of Imodium™ can make the illness worse and should be avoided. Drink fluids, like water and juice, to replace the lost fluids.
Shigella bacteria are in diarrheal stools of infected persons while they are sick and for up to a week or two afterwards. The bacteria are spread by the fecal-oral route. Shigella can get into your mouth from touching diarrhea or items with diarrhea on it and putting fingers into the mouth of a person. This happens when hands are not washed or washed well and can happen during certain types of sexual activity. This happens more often among toddlers who are not fully toilet-trained. People at high risk of becoming infected are family members and playmates of such children.
Do not prepare food for others if you have Shigella.
Shigella can be spread by:
Shigella is not spread by coughing, kissing, or through normal, everyday contact with neighbors or friends.
If you are employed as a food handler or a health care worker and have diarrhea, go home or stay home.
Report your symptoms to your manager. Contact your doctor for stool testing.
When traveling to developing countries, drink only treated or boiled water, and eat only cooked hot foods or fruits you peel yourself
People who are sick with Shigella should not prepare food for others because they may contaminate the food and make other people sick.
Foods that are contaminated with Shigella bacteria do not look or smell bad. Follow tips for food safety at home and use these safety tips at all times:
If you have a Shigella infection, you will be contacted by your local Public Health Department for follow-up.