Dysentery

Dysentery

Dysentery is a serious condition affecting the large intestine. It is characterised by inflammation

and ulceration of the bowel, a colic pain in the region of the abdomen and passing of liquid or

semi-formed stones with mucus and blood.

The pathological condition of dysentery is caused by two organisms, protozoa and bacilli. The

former is generally known as amoebic dysentery and later as bacillary dysentery. An attack of

amoebic dysentery is milder in comparison with bacillary dysentery. But while bacillary dysentery

can respond quickly to treatment, amoebic dysentery does not leave the patient easily, unless

he is careful.

Dysentery is prevalent allover the world except in very cold countries. Places where insanity

conditions prevail are particularly affected. The disease strikes both sexes equally. Similarly, no

age is immune, though children are more prone.

Symptoms

Desentery may be acute and chronic. The acute form is characterised by pain in the abdomen,

diarrhoea and dysenteric motions. Yellowish white mucus and sometimes only blood from the

intestinal ulcers passes with stools. The evacuations are preceded by pain and tenesmus. The

patient feels a constant desire to evacuate, although there may be nothing to throw off except a

little mucus and blood There is a feeling of pain in the rectum and along the large intestine. With

the advance of the disease the quantity of mucus and blood increases. Occassionally casts or

shreds of skinline mucous membrane, from small fragments to 12 inches or so long and an inch

wide , are seen to pass out with motions. Sometimes pus is also thrown out with motions and

often the smell of the stools becomes very foetid. All the digestive processes are upset and

secretions are changed or stopped. The saliva becomes acid instead of being alkaline and the

gastric juice itself may become alkaline. The stomach loses power to digest and absorb food.

The bacilli create toxins and the foetid matters formed also augment further manufacture of

toxins and consequent absorption in blood.

Chronic cases are after-effects of acute attacks. The patient does not recover completely. Stool

remains putrid and may contain blood, while diarrhoea and constipation may alternate, and

general health is disturbed. In severe cases, the temperature may rise to 104 - 105 o F. It may

occasionally become subnormal also.

Causes

The cause of dysentery, according to modern medical system, is germ infection. The germs,

which are supposed to cause dysentery only develop in colon as a result of putrefaction there of

excessive quantities of animal protein food, fried substance, over-spices foods and hard to

digest fatty substances. The real cause of dysentery is thus dietary indiscretion and eating of

excessive amounts of flesh food in hot weather or tropical climate unsuited to the digestion of

such foods. Other causes include debility, fatigue, chill, lowered vitality, intestinal disorders and

overcrowding under insanitary conditions.

Treatment

The treatment of dysentery should aim at removing the offending and toxic matter from the

intestines and for alleviating painful symptoms, stopping the virulence of the bacteria and

promoting healing of the ulcer.

Fasting is the only correct remedy for dysentery to bring with. The patient should fast as long as

acute symptoms are present. During the period of fasting, only orange juice and water should be

taken. In the alternative, the patient should subsist on buttermilk till the acute symptoms are

over. Butter- milk combats offending bacteria and helps establishment of helpful

micro-organisms in the intestines.

Dysentery

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The patient may be given small doses of castor oil in the form of emulsion. This acts as a mild

aperient and facilitates quicker removal of offensive matter, minimises the strain during motion

and also acts as a lubricant to the ulcerated surfaces. IN addition to administration of castor oil,

the mechanical removal of accumulated poisonous matter should be attempted by giving very

low pressure enema, admitting as much water as the patient can tolerate. This can be done

twice or thrice daily. The patient should take complete bed rest as movement induces pain and

aggravates distressing symptoms. A hot water bag may be applied over the abdomen.

After the acute symptoms are over, the patient may be allowed rice, curd, fresh ripe fruits,

especially bael, banana and pomegranate and skimmed milk. Solid foods should be introduced

very carefully and gradually according to the pace of recovery. Flesh foods of all kinds should be

avoided in future as far as possible. Other foods which should be avoided are tea, coffee, white

sugar and white flour and products made from them as well as alcohol in all forms. Foods which

have a detoxifying and cleansing effect upon the intestines on their passage, through, such as

fruits and vegetables, are most essential to a future dietary.

Among specific food remedies, bael fruit is, perhaps , the most efficacious in the treatment of

dysentery of both the varieties. Pulp of the fruit mixed with jaggery should be given thrice daily.

To deal with a chronic case of dysentery, unripe bael fruit is roasted over the fire and the pulp is

mixed with water. Large quantities of the infusion so made should be administered with jaggery.

The pulp of the unripe fruit mixed with an equal quantity of dried ginger can also be given with

butter milk.

The use of pomegranate rind is another effective remedy for dysentery. About 60 grams of therin

should be boiled in 250 grams of milk. It should be removed from the fire when one third of the

milk has evaporated. It should be administered to the patient in three equal doses at suitable

intervals. It will relieve the disease very soon.

Lemon juice is very effective in dealing with ordinary cases of dysentery. A few lemons, peels

and sliced, should be added to 250 ml. of water and boiled for a few minutes. The strained

infusion should be administered thrice daily.

Other remedies considered useful in the treatment of dysentery are the use of small pieces of

onions mixed with curd and equal parts of the tender leaves of the peepal tree, coriander leaves

And sugar chewed slowly.

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