Hygienic practices help in prevention of dysentery caused by Shigella infection

Educating the public on the importance of frequent hand-washing after using toilet or before serving food can prevent outbreaks of shigellosis and gastroenteritis worldwide.

Shigella spreads by food getting contaminated with fecal matter.

 Hygienic practices, such as washing hands thoroughly using soap and water is a must especially after –

• Visiting the toilet

• After changing diapers

• Before food preparation

• Before eating a meal

Salads should be thoroughly washed before consumption

It is important to properly store salads and cooked food which are refrigerated

For a traveler to a tropical or developing country, the best dictum to follow is – "boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it". Travelers should also avoid eating salads, drinking pooled water and stick to drinking bottled water.."

How does the shigella infection spread?

When individuals with Shigellosis wash themselves after a visit to the toilet, their fingers can easily contaminate objects such as toilet door, taps, towels and flush.

When another person touches the contaminated objects they get infected. People with the symptoms of shigellosis should avoid using public toilet for they are prone to spread the infection

 Remember that many child day care centres can become a health hazard if proper measures are not followed.

In Science Shams and Bible Bloopers, David Mills describes daycare centres as follows: The typical daycare center...spreads far more infection and communicable disease than the county jail."

Preventive measures in 'Child Care Centres' -

• Soiled diapers should be properly disposed

• Hand washing of children and toddlers should be supervised after they visit the toilet

• Area where diapers are changed should be properly disinfected and regularly cleaned

• Children suffering from diarrhea should not be allowed in day-care centres

 Insects infesting the fecal matter of an infected person can spread the bacterium around. Therefore insect - control methods should be practiced.

 Adequate chlorination of the water supply can to a large extent control bacillary dysentery epidemics.

 It is important to drink water free from bacterial contamination. It is ideal to thoroughly boil water before drinking it.

 Pasteurization of all milk and dairy products should be practiced

 Milk and water for infant feeding all should always be boiled. Bottles and teats should similarly be cleaned and changed if necessary.