Public health officials around Tampa Bay are alarmed by a recent
spike in children sickened by a nasty bacteria called shigella.
In Hillsborough County, about 40 cases have been reported since
October, a five-year high. Nearly half involved children 4 years
old or younger.
The infection, known as shigellosis, usually means a bout of
diarrhea, which is often bloody, plus fever and stomach cramps.
While most cases are mild and resolved within a week, severe
infections can lead to dehydration. Seizures can be a concern in
children younger than 2 who become extremely sick with a high
fever.
Pinellas County, which saw five cases in all of 2009, has logged
23 cases just since November. Most of this year's 37 cases were
seen in children ages 5 or younger.
"It is so easily spread from person to person, especially among
children," said Lea Wansbrough, an epidemiologist with the
Hillsborough County Health Department. "With shigella, one of the
risk factors is kids who aren't toilet trained yet. It's when
people don't wash hands after using the restroom or after using
diapers."
She couldn't point to a specific reason for the increase, but
said incidence does tend to rise every few years.
So far, Hillsborough hasn't seen an outbreak at child care
facilities or schools, although individual cases are cropping up
around the county.
Pasco County has recorded 11 cases since October, bringing the
year's total to 12. All but one of the recent infections involved
children younger than 10.
To stop the spread of shigella, health officials urge frequent
and thorough hand washing. Parents or adult supervisors should
watch young children to make sure they wash with soap and water for
at least 20 seconds.
Hillsborough health officials suggest using a paper towel to
shut off the faucet and to touch bathroom doorknobs. They want
parents to keep sick children at home until 24 hours after they
have recovered.
Adults experiencing three episodes of diarrhea within a day
should stay home, too, especially if they handle food or work in a
child care or health care center.
Seek medical attention if you or your child develops bloody
diarrhea, or diarrhea severe enough to cause dehydration and weight
loss, or if the diarrhea is accompanied by a fever of 101 degrees
or higher.
Letitia Stein can be reached at lsteinsptimes.com or (813)
226-3322. For more health news, visit www.tampabay.com/health.
c.2010 St. Petersburg Times