Tag Archives: Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole

Dysentery

Dysentery

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Dysentery is an infection in your intestines that causes bloody diarrhea. It can be caused by a parasite or bacteria.

There are two main types of dysentery:

  • Bacillary dysentery or shigellosis – caused by shigella bacteria which is the most common type of dysentery in the UK. 
  • Amoebic dysentery or amoebiasis – caused by an amoeba called Entamoeba histolytica which is mainly found in tropical areas. This type of dysentery is usually picked up abroad. 

Causes of Dysentery

What type you have depends on what caused your infection. 

  • Bacillary dysentery is the most common type of dysentery. It results from bacteria called Shigella. The disease is called shigellosis. 
  • Amoebic dysentery comes from a parasite called E. histolytica. You’re more likely to get this kind of dysentery if you travel to a tropical location that doesn’t have good sanitation.
  • Swimming in contaminated water, such as lakes or pools, is another way you might catch dysentery.
  • You can get dysentery if you eat food that’s been prepared by someone who has it. 
  • You can sometimes carry the bug that causes dysentery for weeks or years without knowing it. 
woman having a glass of water

Risk Factors of Dysentery

Children are most at risk of Dysentery, but anyone can get it at any age. It’s easily spread through person-to-person contact and by contaminated food and drink.

This infection mostly spreads among people who are in close contact with an infected person, such as people:

  • At home
  • In nursing homes
  • In daycare centers
  • In schools

Dysentery is primarily spread by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water in tropical areas that have poor sanitation.

Diagnosis for Dysentery

Seek medical assistance if you or your child has symptoms of dysentery. At your appointment, your doctor will review your symptoms and any recent travels. You should note any travels outside of the country. This information can help your doctor narrow down the possible cause of your symptoms.

Several conditions can cause diarrhea. If you don’t have other symptoms of dysentery, your doctor will order diagnostic testing to determine which bacteria are present. This includes a blood test and a lab test of a stool sample. Your doctor may also perform additional testing to decide whether an antibiotic will help.

Symptoms of Dysentery

person having stomach ache

Symptoms can show up 1 to 3 days after you get infected. In some people, the symptoms take longer to appear. Others never get symptoms.

The most common symptoms of dysentery are related to disturbances of the digestive system and include:

Treatment and Medications for Dysentery

To determine if you have dysentery, your doctor may ask you to provide stool samples for laboratory testing.

Antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment for dysentery because of bacterial organisms and is highly effective. It is essential to follow your treatment plan for dysentery specifically and to take all of the antibiotics as instructed to avoid recurrence.

Antibiotic medications that are effective in the treatment of dysentery include:

Buy Trimethoprim & sulphamethoxazole

What Condition Does Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Treat and Its Price?

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Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole is an FDA-approved medication used in certain bacterial infections. This prevents the bacteria from producing the type of folic acid they need to function. Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole comes as a 160 mg – 800 mg tablet for oral use.

What condition does Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole treat?

Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole is a combined antibiotic used to treat infections including:

This medication can also be used to treat or prevent Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. It is a very serious kind of pneumonia that occurs more commonly in patients whose immune systems are not functioning well. These patients include transplant patients, cancer patients, and patients with AIDS. 

How does Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole work?

Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole reduces the ability of certain bacteria to utilize folic acid for growing. Trimethoprim disrupts the production of tetrahydrofolic acid while Sulfamethoxazole interrupts the making of dihydrofolic acid. Tetrahydrofolic acid and Dihydrofolic acid are forms of folic acid that human cells and bacteria use for creating proteins.

Trimethoprim prevents the production of tetrahydrofolic acid by inhibiting the enzyme accountable for making tetrahydrofolic acid from dihydrofolic acid. The combination of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole has two important steps that are vital in the production of bacterial proteins. These steps are being interrupted and the combination is more effective than either drug alone.

What is the dosage of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole?

Take Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, more often or for longer than directed by your doctor. To do so may increase the chance of side effects. This medicine is best taken with a full glass of water. Several additional glasses of water must be taken each day unless directed otherwise. Drinking extra water will help to prevent some unwanted effects.

The dose of this medication will differ from person-to-person. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

  • This is usually taken twice a day, every 12 hours.
  • Each dose may be taken with or without food.
  • Adults and teenagers aged 12 years may take 200 mg twice a day.

Try to take the medicine at regular intervals. If you forget to take a dose take it as soon as you remember unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. In this case, leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. 

What are the precautions in using Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole?

You should not take this medicine if you:

  • Are allergic to any ingredients of the medicines
  • Have problems with your blood cells such as anemia, a low white blood cell count, or folic acid deficiency

Some people may need extra monitoring or a lower dose of this medication. Make sure your doctor knows if you:

  • Are breastfeeding, pregnant, or trying for a baby
  • Have liver or kidney problems
  • Have a rare metabolic disorder called porphyria

You may need some additional monitoring if you’re taking any of the following medicines with Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole. You may also ask your doctor pharmacist for more information:

  • Warfarin
  • A potassium-sparing diuretic
  • An angiotensin blocker
  • An ACE inhibitor medicine
  • Repaglinide
  • Rifampicin
  • Digoxin
  • Phenytoin
  • Methotrexate
  • Pyrimethamine

Before using this medication, inform your doctor about any medical history you have especially of:

  • Severe allergies
  • Vitamin deficiency
  • Asthma
  • A certain metabolic disorder
  • Decreased bone marrow function
  • Underactive thyroid
  • History of blood disorders caused by trimethoprim or sulfa medications
  • Mineral imbalances such as low level of sodium in the blood or high level of potassium

Other precautions:

  • Before having surgery, tell your doctor about all the products you use.
  • Do not have any immunizations or vaccinations while using this medication unless your doctor tells you to.
  • This medicine makes you more sensitive to the sun. Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning sunlamps or booths. Wear protective clothing or use sunscreen when outdoors.
  • This product might affect your blood sugar especially if you have diabetes. You need to check your blood sugar regularly as directed and let your doctor know the results. 

Price of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole vs. Bactrim DS

The generic Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole is a combined antibiotic medication that only cost $23.88 per 30 tabs of 160 mg – 800 mg tablet. The brand name Bactrim DS costs $85.14 per 30 tabs of the same strength.