Editing Dysentery (section)

== Treatment ==
Dysentery is managed by maintaining fluids using [[oral rehydration therapy]].<ref name=NHS2019/> If this treatment cannot be adequately maintained due to vomiting or the profuseness of diarrhea, hospital admission may be required for [[intravenous]] fluid replacement. In ideal situations, no antimicrobial therapy should be administered until microbiological microscopy and culture studies have established the specific infection involved. When laboratory services are not available, it may be necessary to administer a combination of drugs, including an [[amebicide|amoebicidal]] drug to kill the [[parasite]], and an [[antibiotic]] to treat any associated bacterial infection.{{cn|date=December 2022}} [[Laudanum]] (Deodorized Tincture of Opium)] may be used for severe pain and to combat severe diarrhea.

If shigellosis is suspected and it is not too severe, letting it run its course may be reasonable – usually less than a week. If the case is severe, antibiotics such as [[ciprofloxacin]] or [[Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole|TMP-SMX]] may be useful. However, many strains of ''Shigella'' are becoming resistant to common antibiotics, and effective medications are often in short supply in developing countries. If necessary, a doctor may have to reserve antibiotics for those at highest risk for death, including young children, people over 50, and anyone suffering from dehydration or malnutrition.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

Amoebic dysentery is often treated with two antimicrobial drugs such as [[metronidazole]] and [[paromomycin]] or [[iodoquinol]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter 3 Infectious Diseases Related To Travel|url=http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/amebiasis|website=CDC|access-date=9 June 2014|date=August 1, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714124434/http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/amebiasis|archive-date=14 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>