Shigella Food Poisoning Symptoms

Symptoms of Shigella food poisoning, or shigellosis, may include watery diarrhea; blood, mucus, or pus in stool; fever; abdominal pain or cramping; nausea and vomiting; tenesmus (straining to have bowel movements); and malaise. Symptoms may appear as early as 14 hours, to as late as 4 days after consuming Shigella contaminated food.  Shigellosis usually resolves in 5-7 days.

Shigella may be found in a person’s stool weeks after symptoms have resolved. Some individuals who are infected may have no symptoms at all, yet they may still pass the bacteria to others.

The elderly and young children may be more likely to develop severe diarrhea, eventually requiring hospitalization.

About 3% of individuals who are infected with a type of Shigella known as Shigella flexneri will develop a condition called Reiter’s Syndrome, or “reactive arthritis.” Reiter’s Syndrome is characterized by joint pain, eye irritation (conjunctivitis), and painful urination. Most people with Reiter’s Syndrome will recover within a year; however, this syndrome can lead to chronic arthritis.

If you or a loved one was the victim of Shigella food poisoning and you have a question regarding your legal rights, please see Shigella Lawsuit, or call the Law Firm on Eric H. Weinberg toll free at 877-934-6274.