Shigella infection typically presents with which combination of symptoms?

• A. Acute intestinal infection with fever, nausea, vomiting and cramps.
• B. Chronic cough and shortness of breath.
• C. Rash and joint swelling.
• D. Severe dehydration without GI symptoms.

Answer: (A)

Shigella infection is an acute gastroenteritis caused by a bacterium that invades the colon. The hallmark symptoms are sudden fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea, which is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The stool may also contain mucus and blood due to the intestinal inflammation. This illness typically presents as an abrupt, primarily gastrointestinal illness and can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, but it does not present primarily with respiratory symptoms, skin rashes, or systemic signs without GI involvement.

So the presentation described as an acute intestinal infection with fever, nausea, vomiting and cramps fits shigellosis best, reflecting its intestinal origin and the common GI symptoms.