Karen Schradin
WSAV News 3
Friday, September 16, 2005
Four children have tested positive for shigellosis in Richmond Hill so far, and that doesn’t include those who are still waiting for test results to come back.
For the Walker family it’s a first.
Roxann Walker says, “In the last two weeks I have seen my pediatrician just about everyday.”
The mysterious stomach bug is affecting one child after another.
9 year-old Logan was the first infected.
Roxann says, “He turned a white with blueish green like I’ve never seen before. It was terrible to watch.”

Logan suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea for two days, then his 6 year old brother got sick. A day later, 2 year old Griffin caught it too.
Griffin became dehydrated and had to be admitted to the hospital.
Next, each child began having relapses.
“We’ve gone through more Tide, hot water, Tide with bleach, bleach, Lysol wipes. We’ve cleaned down door knobs we’ve cleaned down toilets. We give them a bath. When you give one child a bath you have to completely bleach out the tub,” says Roxann.
Their doctor is waiting on test results, but suspects shigella bacteria. Health officials says it has affected other children since August.
“It’s easily spread, particularly in the preschool age and the younger kids because hygiene isn’t a priority sometimes,” says Epidemiologist Cristina Pasa.
Kids who don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom, could spread it to others like the Walkers.
If you think your child has shigellosis, give them plenty of fluids, wash their hands often, see a doctor for antibiotics, and notify your school nurse or daycare provider.
Do not give your child anti-diarrheal agents, because they can make your child worse.