Bacterial illness sickening Missouri kids

Bacterial illness sickening Missouri kids

Youngsters in the St. Louis, Missouri, area have been hit hard in the last six months by an outbreak of shigellosis, an infectious disease that isn't typically life-threatening but can cause severe flu-like symptoms.

Since November 1, 648 people statewide -- primarily kids ages 4 and younger and their caregivers -- have come down with shigellosis, and most of the children attend day-care centers. All but about 100 were in the region that includes St. Louis and surrounding counties, said Larry Phelan, an epidemiologist for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The disease is typically characterized by diarrhea, headaches, nausea, vomiting, stomach aches and cramps.

The outbreak is much worse than in recent years, said Dr. Alexis Elward, an infectious disease specialist. Before November, only nine cases were reported last year in the St. Louis area.

The illness is treated with antibiotics.

About 18,000 cases are reported in the U.S. each year, but the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes the illness is often undiagnosed the actual number may be 20 times greater.