Symptoms of Dysentery

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Symptoms of bacillary dysentery usually begin within one to three days of infection and can last from three to seven days. The symptoms could include:

watery diarrhoea, sometimes containing blood, mucus or pus in severe cases,
feeling sick and vomiting,
abdominal pain,
fever, and
feeling down or depressed.

Amoebic dysentery may not show any symptoms for months or even years. However, a person that is infected will pass cysts in their stools when they go to the toilet and subsequently infect their surroundings if hygiene standards are poor.

Symptoms of amoebic dysentery are similar to bacillary dysentery, but there is more likely to be blood in the diarrhoea. This is because the amoebae attack the walls of the large intestine causing ulcers that can bleed. Ulcers can eventually result in loss of appetite and excessive weight loss. The passing of stools may also be painful.