Vomiting and risk of meningitis: the dangerous bacteria for children is spreading in Israel

First publication: renewed outbreak of dysentery throughout the country. Ministry of Health data obtained by "Maariv" indicate a significant increase of tens of percent in the rate of infection with the "Shigella" bacteria, which causes diarrhea and vomiting and an increased risk of meningitis. The Ministry of Health estimates that most cases of infection occurred in the toddler and child populations.

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According to the ministry's data, during the year 2023, 4,679 infections with the disease were recorded. However, the true unreported numbers are much higher. Indeed, the data only includes those who contracted the disease and consulted a doctor, who referred for laboratory tests, or required hospitalization. In comparison, a year earlier only 1,721 cases were registered. A year before, about 1,100 cases of infection were recorded, while in 2020 only about 300 cases were reported.

A senior official at the Ministry of Health told "Maariv" that most cases of infection occurred in kindergartens, or following the consumption of contaminated food. The source estimates that the corona years, the closures, the isolations and the closing of the catering activity caused a decrease in the infection rate. Whereas in the past year, with the return to normalcy – the bacteria returned to stormy activity in Israel.

Shigella belongs to the family of "gram-negative bacteria", typical of the digestive and urinary systems. This is a highly contagious bacterium, which can cause serious illness especially in toddlers under the age of five. Infection during the first six months of life is not common, probably because at this age the children do not stay in kindergartens and consume mainly breast milk or formulas.

The Shigella bacterium is usually transmitted through contaminated food or contact between people who carry the bacterium or are infected with it. After infection, the bacterium incubates in the body between 12 hours and several days, then causes the typical symptoms including high fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness and pain during bowel movements.

The classic hallmark of the disease is watery diarrhea that turns into bloody mucus. The main risk from infection with the bacterium is meningitis, which manifests itself in vomiting, blurred consciousness, fear of light, and sometimes even convulsions and life-threatening. In case of a positive answer to the bacteria in a laboratory culture, antibiotic treatment is given with an injection "Rosefin" or the drug "Azithromycin" orally.

The Ministry of Health recommends that in the event of diarrhea, drink plenty of water, maintain maximum hygiene, which includes washing hands with soap and water and using a separate towel. According to the guidelines, a child suffering from the symptoms should not be sent to the educational institution. In the event of the appearance of signs of dehydration, including dry oral mucosa, crying without tears, failure to urinate for more than ten hours, a general deterioration in the state of consciousness or the appearance of bloody or mucous diarrhea – a doctor should be consulted.