What is the typical clinical presentation of Shigella infection?

The typical clinical presentation of Shigella infection is characterized by mucus or bloody diarrhea. Shigella is a bacterial pathogen that causes bacillary dysentery, often referred to as shigellosis. The infection primarily results in diarrhea that contains blood and mucus due to inflammation and ulceration of the intestinal lining.

Patients usually present with symptoms such as abdominal cramps, fever, and tenesmus (a feeling of incomplete defecation). The presence of blood and mucus in the stool is a hallmark of the infection, distinguishing it from other types of gastrointestinal infections. Shigella is known for its ability to invade the intestinal epithelium, leading to severe inflammation and the characteristic bloody diarrhea.

While watery diarrhea can occur in various gastrointestinal infections caused by different pathogens, it is not the defining feature of Shigella. Additionally, Shigella infections do not typically present with odorless diarrhea or constipation as primary symptoms. These aspects further emphasize why mucus or bloody diarrhea is the key presentation associated with Shigella infections.