Category:Dysentery

Dys"en*ter*y, n. Etym: [L. dysenteria, Gr. in: cf. F. dysenterie. See Dys, and In.] (Med.)

Defn: A disease attended with inflammation and ulceration of the colon and rectum, and characterized by griping pains, constant desire to evacuate the bowels, and the discharge of mucus and blood.

Note: When acute, dysentery is usually accompanied with high fevers. It occurs epidemically, and is believed to be communicable through the medium of the alvine discharges.