Pritzker Olsen Attorneys

Shigella Complications

Shigella in StoolA Shigella infection (shigellosis) can be sever and cause life-long illness or death. Compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses, loss of income, cost of care and other damages can be significant. Because of the complexity of a Shigella lawsuit, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible after a Shigella diagnosis. Our law firm is nationally-recognized in this area. To contact a lawyer at our law firm for a free consultation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online, Shigella-case-review form.

Below are some of the complications of a Shigella infection. Because Shigella can lead to damage throughout the body, this list is not exhaustive.

  • Coma. The toxins associated with a Shigella infection, Shiga toxins, can work to compromise the blood-brain barrier, resulting in a situation where the brain can be “poisoned” by the toxins.  This can result in damage to the central nervous system and lethargy, disorientation, seizures, stroke, paralysis and/or coma.
  • Dehydration. Because Shigella caused severe diarrhea, the primary complication of Shigella is dehydration.  Severe dehydration can cause shock and death.  The high-risk groups for severe dehydration are children under 2 and adults that are chronically ill; however, everyone with a Shigella infection is at risk and can die without prompt treatment.
  • Encephalopathy. Shigella infections can lead to brain injury.  Encephalopathy is a general medical term that refers to a disease of the brain. Encephalopathy caused by a Shigella infection is sometimes referred to as Shigella encephalopathy and can lead to seizures, coma and death.
  • Hemolytic uremic syndrome. Shigella infections (shigellosis) can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to hemolytic anemia (a low red blood cell count), thrombocytopenia (a low platelet count) and acute kidney failure (renal failure).
  • Hypoglycemia.   Shigella infections can cause metabolic disturbances in the body (disturbances of the body’s chemical processes).  One such instance of this is hypoglycemia, a lower-than-normal level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.  Hypoglycemia can cause seizures and, if not treated, death.
  • Hyponatremia.  Another instance of Shigella-associated metabolic disturbance is hyponatremia, a disturbance of the salt in the blood that can lead to dangerously-low concentration of sodium in the plasma. Severe hyponatremia can result in cerebral edema (swelling of the brain).  One symptom of hyponatremia in people with Shigella infections is seizures.
  • Intestinal perforation.  Shigella-related intestinal perforation is rare in the developed countries and generally only happens to malnourished children under the age of two.
  • Peritonitis. If a Shigella infection causes toxic megacolon (paralyzed colon) and it is untreated, the colon may rupture, causing peritonitis.
  • Pneumonia. Shigella infections, like many other infections, can lead to pneumonia, an inflammation of the lung that causes the lung to fill with fluid.  Shigella-associated pneumonia is rare and often fatal.
  • Proctitis. Shigella can cause proctitus, inflammation of the lining of the rectum.
  • Rectal prolapse.  The strain put on the body during difficult bowel movements may result in rectal prolapse, the rectal mucous membrane or lining moving down or through the rectum.
  • Reiter’s syndrome. In rare cases a person may develop Reiter’s syndrome (also referred to as Reiter syndrome), a form of reactive arthritis that can cause joint pain and inflammation.
  • Seizure: When someone with a Shigella infection runs a high fever, there is a risk of seizures.  Metabolic disturbances (disturbance of the body’s chemical processes), including hyponatremia, hypocalcemia and hypoglycemia, also may contribute to seizure activity in people with Shigella infections. Shigella seizures are generally brief but can last over 5 minutes.  Seizures may be accompanied by vomiting, problems with sleeping and/or extreme sleepiness.  Always contact a doctor immediately if someone under your care has a seizure.
  • Septicemia (sepsis). Septicemia is referred to as blood poisoning, inflammation of the whole body via microbes in the blood. It can lead to organ dysfunction (including multiple organ dysfunction syndrome), septic shock and death.
  • Shock. Severe dehydration can lead to shock and death.  Anyone is at risk, but children under 2 and chronically ill adults are particularly susceptible.
  • Stroke. The toxins associated with a Shigella infection, Shiga toxins, can work to compromise the blood-brain barrier, resulting in a situation where the brain can be “poisoned” by the toxins.  This can result in damage to the central nervous system and lethargy, disorientation, seizures, stroke, paralysis and/or coma.

We are the law firm of Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. , one of the few law firms in the United States that has successfully represented victims of Shigella outbreaks. We have a national reputation, and lawyers at the firm have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and other publications.  In recognigion of their accomplishments, Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. attorneys Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman have been named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine. If you or your child has been diagnosed with Shigella, you may contact Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email our lawyers, or submit the firm's online consultation form for review by a lawyer at the firm. We have experience with cases involving hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication of a Shigella infection.


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