Dysentery
Description General Measures Referral ICD-10 code: A06.0 DESCRIPTION Dysentery, or diarrhoeal stool with blood or mucus, is usually due to bacteria. Commonly encountered infectious conditions include Shigella, Salmonella, E. Coli, Entamoeba histolytica and Campylobacter . GENERAL MEASURES Treat initial presentations as bacillary dysentery (See: Dysentery, bacillary ). If there is no clinical resp
ICD-10 code: A06.0
DESCRIPTION
Dysentery, or diarrhoeal stool with blood or mucus, is usually due to bacteria. Commonly encountered infectious conditions include Shigella, Salmonella, E. Coli, Entamoeba histolytica and Campylobacter.
GENERAL MEASURES
- Treat initial presentations as bacillary dysentery (See: Dysentery, bacillary).
- If there is no clinical response within three days, manage as amoebic dysentery (See Adult Hospital Level STGs and EML,: Amoebic dysentery) or refer for formal assessment.
- Exclude surgical conditions, e.g. intussusception in children.
REFERRAL
- No response to treatment
- Abdominal distension
- Intussusception
Click here for the NEMLC Recommendations for medicine amendments (2020-4 review cycle).
Standard Treatment Guidelines And Essential Medicines List For South Africa, Primary Healthcare, 2020-4_Version 1_June 2024
Chapter 2: Gastro-Intestinal Conditions, 2.10 Dysentery