Treatment of shigellosis (Shigella)
Learn how shigellosis is diagnosed and treated.
On this page
How shigellosis is diagnosed
Shigellosis is diagnosed by a health care provider through laboratory testing.
If testing shows that you have shigellosis, more testing may determine the:
- type of Shigella bacteria causing the infection
- appropriate treatment
How shigellosis is treated
Shigellosis symptoms usually last 5 to 7 days. Most people recover on their own without any medical treatment.
If you have shigellosis, you may lose a lot of fluid through vomiting and diarrhea that can lead to dehydration. To protect against dehydration, drink plenty of fluids.
If you think you have illness due to Shigella, contact your health care provider.
They can:
- monitor your illness
- let you know how to avoid dehydration and other complications
- provide treatment for severe cases of illness that could need prescription drugs or intravenous fluids (by inserting a needle into a vein)