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Treatment
After the cause of dysentery has been correctly identified, treatment can begin. Treatment of dysentery differs with respect to the causative agents. In most cases, dysentery is a disease that resolves on its own in 3-7 days without any treatment, thanks to our immune system. However, we can always help out our immune system by taking medicines, which help in resolving it more quickly and without any complications. The type of medicine that doctors prescribe depends upon the cause of dysentery. In the case of bacterial dysentery, antibiotics are prescribed while in the case of amoebic dysentery medicines like Metronidazole or tinidazole are prescribed. It is important to diagnose the cause of dysentery accurately before medicines can be prescribed, as antibiotics will not be effective against amoebic dysentery, and Metronidazole or tinidazole will not be effective against bacterial dysentery. Medicines such as paromomycin are usually also prescribed to get rid of any cysts in the colon in case of amoebic dysentery. Doctors may also prescribe painkillers like paracetamol to help relieve pains and fever.
Dysentery can lead to severe water loss from the body and cause extreme dehydration which can result in complications and even death. Hence, it is important to keep oneself hydrated throughout the recovery process, therefore doctors sometimes also advise drinking rehydration liquid solutions such as Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) which can be bought from the pharmacy or made at home with water, sugar, and table salt.
Is there any Vaccine for dysentery?
Research for the development of vaccines against dysentery is ongoing; however, no vaccine has yet been approved for use in the USA.
