Sacramento Shigella Lawyer
Sacramento Shigella Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney. Shigella is a group of bacteria that causes the diarrhea disease shigellosis. It is estimated that shigella causes about 500,000 cases of diarrhea each year in the United States. While shigella is not the most common cause of foodborne illness, the bacteria are very contagious and those who do contract a shigella infection can have a lengthy bout of diarrhea and in some cases, an infection can lead to life-threatening complications.
Watch the Youtube video below to learn the basics about Shigellosis:
Symptoms And Complications Of A Shigella Infections
Symptoms of a shigella infection usually start within one to two days after exposure and the most common symptoms include fever, diarrhea, which can sometimes be bloody, stomach pain, and tenesmus, which is a painful feeling of needing to pass stools even when the bowels are empty. A shigella infection will typically resolve in five to seven days, though oftentimes a person’s bowel function will not return to normal for several months, and in some cases, serious complications can develop. Serious complications of a shigella infection include painful joints, irritated eyes, and painful urination, all of which are associated with post-infectious arthritis. This arthritis can last for months and even years, and in some instances can lead to chronic arthritis. Other complications include blood infections, seizures, and hemolytic-uremic syndrome, or HUS, which has the potential to cause kidney failure.
Shigella infections usually do not require any treatment, with the exception of rehydration and rest, but in severe cases, treatment with antibiotics may be necessary. However, shigella is oftentimes resistant to antibiotics, and in these instances, other medications may be used that can be less effective, but expensive and more toxic.
Sources Of Shigella Bacteria
The most common sources of shigella bacteria are contaminated water or food, or coming into contact with an infected person. Those infected with shigella shed the bacteria in their stools, and because shigella is highly contagious, exposure to even a small amount of contaminated fecal matter can cause an infection. The transmission of shigella, therefore, occurs when you accidentally ingest or put something in your mouth that has come in contact with contaminated feces. For example, these accidents can happen when:
- Hands that are contaminated with fecal matter of an infected person (think diaper changes or dirty bathroom fixtures) touch your mouth or your food;
- Eating contaminated food – foods that are commonly associated with shigella outbreaks include sandwiches and salads where a lot of hand contact is involved during preparation, and raw fruits and vegetables that are contaminated in the field;
- Swallowing contaminated water during recreational activities like boating or swimming, or drinking contaminated water; and
- Exposure to fecal matter during sexual contact.
The best way to prevent exposure to shigella is to wash your hands thoroughly before eating, but it should also go without saying that it is important to wash your hands after changing diapers or helping to clean another person who has had a bowel movement. In addition, try to avoid swallowing water from lakes, ponds, or untreated pools, and avoid any sexual activity with someone who has diarrhea.
Shigella Food Poisoning Litigation
As mentioned above, in most cases shigella resolves in five to seven days without medical intervention. However, in some instances, shigella infections can lead to severe and sometimes life-threatening complications where medical treatment may be extensive and costly. If you have contracted a shigella infection and you believe that the source of that infection might be from food you consumed from a restaurant or grocery store, it may be possible to hold that restaurant or grocery store responsible for your illness. Victims of shigella food poisoning who have successfully sued those responsible for their illness have obtained the compensation they need and deserve in order to at least help with past and/or ongoing medical treatment costs.
Sacramento Shigella Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Shigella Lawyer. If you or a family member has been seriously injured or killed due to food poisoning, please call me today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
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