Laboratory Studies
- Fecal leukocytes and erythrocytes
- Mildly elevated hematocrit, sodium, and urea nitrogen are indicative of volume depletion in cases of shigellosis.
- Leukocytosis is rare.
- Positive findings on stool culture of a fresh fecal specimen
- In patients who are immunocompromised (eg, HIV), blood cultures are rarely helpful in cases of shigellosis.
Procedures
- Sigmoidoscopy is not necessary in most cases of shigellosis.
- If distinguishing between dysentery and the acute presentation of idiopathic ulcerative colitis is urgently necessary, a colonic biopsy may be useful if it is performed within 4 days of the onset of symptoms.
Histologic Findings
- Intense neutrophilic and mononuclear cells infiltrating the lamina propria
- Hemorrhage
- Ulcers
- Mucous depletion
- Occasional crypt abscesses
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