Kollam: An 11-year-old boy from Paravur has been diagnosed with presence of Shigella bacteria. The health department officials said that the condition of the boy, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kollam, is satisfactory. 

The child’s five-year-old brother had died the other day due to certain health problems. The health department is conducting a detailed investigation to find out whether this child died due to Shigella.

The deceased child felt unwell while at school on Monday afternoon. The parents took him home and later admitted him to a private hospital in Paravur. He died when being shifted from the private hospital to the Parippally Medical College hospital. The couple's 11-year-old elder son was also unwell but his condition did not worsen.

The other family members are also undergoing treatment. Test results are awaited. Food safety department officials visited the their home in Kongal. The family did not eat any food from outside on any of these days, reports say. Information has also been collected from the surrounding houses. 

The DMO, Dr D Vasanthadas said that the cause of the child’s death couldn’t be found in the post-mortem and that the diagnosis on this child can only be deciphered after detailed examination. The internal organs have been sent for examination.

It remains unclear whether the five-year-old boy in Paravur was infected with Shigella from restaurant food. Family members maintain that they have not had food from outside for a week. But they had a sandwich from a restaurant about a week ago. It is also reported that on the day that the five-year-old child died, the elder child ate food brought from outside. The food safety department has taken samples from this place. 

The police have also taken steps to check the drinking water in the area after two people in nearby houses complained of physical ailments. 

Health officials warn that Shigella infection (or Shigellosis)  can cause serious problems in children. Handling food and water under unsanitary conditions can cause this infection. Diagnosis is made through a stool test. 

Shigellosis is an intestinal infection caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella that affects the digestive system. Diarrhea is the main symptom and in severe cases, there can be bloody diarrhea. Dehydration turns this disease fatal. Children under the age of five are more susceptible to the disease but proper treatment can help manage the condition. 

Shigella bacteria can live longer in refrigerated foods like milk, eggs, fish, and meat. Those infected should not prepare food items. Antibiotics can help reduce the severity of the disease. Keeping premises clean and using boiled drinking water helps keep disease at bay.