09/16/05
The Coastal Health District has released the following:
SAVANNAH, GAó Several school-aged children in the Richmond Hill area of Bryan County are reporting gastrointestinal illness. Four have been positively diagnosed with shigellosis, a bacterial infection affecting the intestinal tract. Symptoms often include mild to severe diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Most people recover on their own within 5-7 days, but in severe cases hospitalization and fluids are sometimes necessary.
The Shigella bacteria are passed in stool. Shigella are sometimes spread among diapered children, or by an infected person who doesnít properly wash his or her hands after using the restroom. ìThe best way to avoid getting shigellosis is to wash your hands well, and wash them often,î says Cristina Pasa, epidemiologist with the Coastal Health District. ìUse warm water and soap and scrub your hands for at least 15 seconds before rinsing.îContinue Reading Parents Cautioned About Gastrointestinal Illness Among Children