Define the diseses Shigellosis

Shigellosis or bacterial dysentery is caused by facultative anaerobic, gram-negative, non-spore forming, rod-shaped  Shigella in the family enterobacteriacae. In general, shigellosis is a self-limiting disease, lasting 5 to 6 days if untreated, however in young malnourished children, the elderly and the immuno compromised (eg, AIDS patients), the disease may be fatal. It is estimated that shigellosis is responsible for the death of 500,000 children worldwide each year.