7/21/2019 The Major Differences Between Diarrhea and Dysentery

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The major differences between Diarrhea and Dysentery are as follows:

S.N.

Diarrhea Dysentery

1.Diarrhea is presented as watery stool

with no blood and mucus.

Dysentery is presented as a mucoid

stool that may be accompanied by

blood.

2. The patient may or may not be

accompanied by cramps or a pain.

The patient usually complains of

cramps and pain in the lower abdominal

area.

3. Fever is less common in diarrhea. Fever is more common in dysentery.

4.Diarrhea is a disease that affects the

small bowel.

Dysentery is a disease that affects the

colon.

5.Diarrheal infection is located and

targets only intestinal lumen and

upper epithelial cells.

Dysentery not only upper epithelial cells

are targeted but colon ulceration also

results.

6.

There is no cell death in diarrhea and

the infection is only caused because

of the release of some toxins by the

infecting agent.

When a person gets dysentery, the

upper epithelial cells are attacked and

destroyed by the pathogen or disease

causing agent.

.The antimicrobial that are used to

treat diarrhea do not eradicate the

toxin left behind.

Treatment for dysentery can eradicate

the pathogen that is causing the

infection and stop the inflammation.

!.The effects of diarrhea are not that

serious, apart from a risk of

dehydration.

Dysentery can cause a lot of

complications, if left untreated.

". Diarrhea is mostly viral. E. coli  can

also cause watery diarrhea.

Dysentery is mostly bacterial. E coli,

Shigella, and Salmonella are the most

7/21/2019 The Major Differences Between Diarrhea and Dysentery

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common causative organisms

1#.

Diarrhea does not need antibiotics.

Oral rehydration solutions or

intravenous fluid therapy may be

used.

Dysentery almost always reuires

antibiotic treatment. !ntravenous

antibiotics may be needed in severely ill

children.