POSSIBLE DYSENTERY: Serious Diarrhea, Serious Loose Bowel Movements, LBM

DEFINITION: Dysentery is persistent diarrhea that continues every
20-60 minutes.  Causes are usually amoeba, giardia, and other
bacteria and occasionally virus, such as the Norwalk virus.
Additionally, the shigella bacteria is common and very contagious.
Also, bouts of colitis can cause severe diarrhea with bloody
loose stools.

SYMPTOMS: The hallmark is severe and continuous loose bowel movements.
Sometimes there is blood in the stools and sometimes not.  A good
description of the blood can be important.

THREAPY: Treatment depends on the
severity of the illness, and on the type of bacteria involved. 
In some cases, the loose bowel movements are natures way to
eliminate the offending organism.  It is important to
identify the etiology (the cause) of the loose bowel movements
prior to starting antibiotic therapy because in some of the
cases the wrong antibiotic can make the problem worse.
While it is important for those with amoeba and/or giardia
to start on Metronidazole as soon as possible, giving this
product to someone with another type of diarrhea my cause
an increase in the loose stools.
If the physician is suspicious of a particular etiology and
the patient has severe symptoms it is common to take a guess
and to start therapy as a life saving measure.

Make sure that anyone that has loose bowel movements drinks
water or any clear liquids (soda pop is ok) every 30 minutes
to prevent dehydration.  Dehydration is the serious turning
point with loose stools.  If one can pull up their skin
and it tents, then dehydration is occuring.  If one has
problems with drinking fluids then intravenous therapy will
be needed.

IF PROBLEMS: Call the doctor or return for re-exam if you
become increasingly weak or lightheaded, if large amounts of blood are
passed in the stool, or if you feel your condition is otherwise
worsening.  If you are having a loose bowel movement every hour or
more, then it is recommended that you need intravenous fluids.