Dysentery

Dysentery is a serious condition affecting the large intestine. It is characterised by inflammation and ulcerationof the bowel, a colic pain in the region of the abdomen and passing of liquid or semi-formed stones with mucusand blood. The pathological condition of dysentery is caused by two organisms, protozoa and bacilli. Theformer is generally known as amoebic dysentery and later as bacillary dysentery. An attack of amoebicdysentery is milder in comparison with bacillary dysentery. But while bacillary dysentery can respond quickly totreatment, amoebic dysentery does not leave the patient easily, unless he is careful. Dysentery is prevalentallover the world except in very cold countries. Places where insanity conditions prevail are particularlyaffected. 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 anddysenteric motions. Yellowish white mucus and sometimes only blood from the intestinal ulcers passes withstools. 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 therectum and along the large intestine. With the advance of the disease the quantity of mucus and bloodincreases. Occassionally casts or shreds of skinline mucous membrane, from small fragments to 12 inches orso long and an inch wide , are seen to pass out with motions. Sometimes pus is also thrown out with motionsand often the smell of the stools becomes very foetid. All the digestive processes are upset and secretions arechanged or stopped. The saliva becomes acid instead of being alkaline and the gastric juice itself may becomealkaline. The stomach loses power to digest and absorb food. The bacilli create toxins and the foetid mattersformed also augment further manufacture of toxins and consequent absorption in blood. Chronic cases areafter-effects of acute attacks. The patient does not recover completely. Stool remains putrid and may containblood, while diarrhoea and constipation may alternate, and general health is disturbed. In severe cases, thetemperature 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 aresupposed to cause dysentery only develop in colon as a result of putrefaction there of excessive quantities ofanimal protein food, fried substance, over-spices foods and hard to digest fatty substances. The real cause ofdysentery is thus dietary indiscretion and eating of excessive amounts of flesh food in hot weather or tropicalclimate 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 foralleviating painful symptoms, stopping the virulence of the bacteria and promoting healing of the ulcer. Fastingis the only correct remedy for dysentery to bring with. The patient should fast as long as acute symptoms arepresent. During the period of fasting, only orange juice and water should be taken. In the alternative, the patientshould subsist on buttermilk till the acute symptoms are over. Butter- milk combats offending bacteria and helpsestablishment of helpful micro-organisms in the intestines.The patient may be given small doses of castor oil in the form of emulsion. This acts as a mild aperient andfacilitates quicker removal of offensive matter, minimises the strain during motion and also acts as a lubricant tothe ulcerated surfaces. In addition to administration of castor oil, the mechanical removal of accumulatedpoisonous matter should be attempted by giving very low pressure enema, admitting as much water as thepatient can tolerate. This can be done twice or thrice daily. The patient should take complete bed rest asmovement induces pain and aggravates distressing symptoms. A hot water bag may be applied over theabdomen. After the acute symptoms are over, the patient may be allowed rice, curd, fresh ripe fruits, especiallybael, banana and pomegranate and skimmed milk. Solid foods should be introduced very carefully andgradually according to the pace of recovery. Flesh foods of all kinds should be avoided in future as far aspossible. Other foods which should be avoided are tea, coffee, white sugar and white flour and products madefrom them as well as alcohol in all forms. Foods which have a detoxifying and cleansing effect upon theintestines 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 boththe varieties. Pulp of the fruit mixed with jaggery should be given thrice daily. To deal with a chronic case ofdysentery, unripe bael fruit is roasted over the fire and the pulp is mixed with water. Large quantities of theinfusion so made should be administered with jaggery. The pulp of the unripe fruit mixed with an equal quantityof dried ginger can also be given with butter milk. The use of pomegranate rind is another effective remedy fordysentery. About 60 grams of therin should be boiled in 250 grams of milk. It should be removed from the firewhen one third of the milk has evaporated. It should be administered to the patient in three equal doses atsuitable intervals. It will relieve the disease very soon. Lemon juice is very effective in dealing with ordinarycases of dysentery. A few lemons, peels and sliced, should be added to 250 ml. of water and boiled for a fewminutes. The strained infusion should be administered thrice daily. Other remedies considered useful in thetreatment of dysentery are the use of small pieces of onions mixed with curd and equal parts of the tenderleaves of the peepal tree, coriander leaves and sugar chewed slowly.