A person returns to Delhi from Bangladesh after 2 days and has diarrhoea. Stool examination shows RBC’s in stool. The likely organism causing is –
First, the presence of RBCs in the stool suggests a bacterial infection that causes dysentery. Common culprits include Shigella, E. coli (like EHEC), and maybe Salmonella. But considering the travel history to Bangladesh, which is a region where certain pathogens are more prevalent.
Shigella is a big one for dysentery, causing bloody diarrhea. They invade the intestines and cause inflammation, leading to RBCs. Then there's Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), like O157:H7, which can also cause bloody diarrhea. But STEC is more associated with hemorrhagic colitis and can lead to HUS. However, the incubation period for STEC is usually 3-4 days, so maybe less likely here since the patient had it after 2 days. Shigella's incubation is shorter, around 1-2 days, which fits better.
Salmonella typhi causes typhoid, but that's more systemic with fever and doesn't typically present with RBCs in stool unless complicated. Vibrio cholerae causes watery diarrhea, not bloody. So probably not that. Campylobacter can cause bloody diarrhea but is more common in undercooked poultry, maybe less likely in this context.
So the most probable answer is Shigella. Let me check the options again. The correct answer should be Shigella. The other options like E. coli, Salmonella, or Vibrio are incorrect because of the incubation time and clinical presentation.
**Core Concept**
Infectious colitis with blood in stool suggests invasive pathogens like *Shigella* or *E. coli* O157:H7. Travel to endemic regions (Bangladesh) and a short incubation period (1β2 days) point to **Shigella dysenteriae**, which causes dysentery via mucosal invasion and Shiga toxin-mediated damage.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
*Shigella* species, particularly *S. dysenteriae*, invade the colonic mucosa, leading to ulceration, inflammation, and hemorrhage. The Shiga toxin produced by some strains (e.g., *S. dysenteriae* type 1) causes endothelial damage, resulting in bloody diarrhea. The incubation period (1β3 days) aligns with the 2-day travel history, making it the most likely etiology.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** *Vibrio cholerae* causes profuse, watery "rice-water" stools without blood.
**Option B:** *Salmonella typhi* causes typhoid fever with systemic symptoms (fever, abdominal pain) and rarely bloody diarrhea.
**Option C:** *Enteropathogenic E. coli* (EPEC) causes watery diarrhea in children, not bloody stools.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Remember the "4 Fs" for Shigella: **F**amily, **F**ood, **F**eces, **F**latulence (though not really flatulence). Shigella is highly contagious via