Dysentery
Version: November 2025
Introduction
Dysentery is a type of gastrointestinal infection characterized by severe diarrhea with blood or mucus, commonly accompanied by abdominal pain and fever. It is primarily caused by bacterial or parasitic organisms such as Shigella or Entamoeba histolytica. Transmission occurs via fecal-oral routes, often through contaminated food or water or person-to-person contact. It is prevalent in areas with inadequate sanitation and limited access to clean water. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can lead to dehydration or complications if untreated. Management typically involves rehydration, antimicrobial therapy, and improved hygiene practices to prevent recurrence.
Highlights
- Dysentery cases in the Chinese mainland have shown a decreasing trend from 2015 to 2025, with a gradual decline over the years, particularly after 2019.
- Seasonal peaks are observed annually, with higher cases typically in the summer months of June to August each year, though this peak has lessened in recent years.
- The consistent low number of deaths, with periodic occurrences of fatalities, indicates generally low mortality and a controlled case-fatality rate over the decade.
- By November 2025, notably reduced case numbers demonstrate effective control measures, reflected in these declining incidence figures, despite a slight increase from early to mid-2025.
Analysis
Cases Analysis
The analysis of dysentery cases in mainland China from November 2015 to November 2025 highlights key trends in incidence rates. Initially, cases were high, with a peak occurring during summer months, particularly from May to August, suggesting a seasonal pattern possibly linked to increased transmission through contaminated food or water during warmer periods. In the mid-2010s, cases surged from around 8,000 to over 18,000, but from August 2018 onwards, a general decline is observed, reaching the lowest in December 2022 with 1,215 cases.
Despite the high number of cases, deaths remained minimal, with many months reporting none. However, late 2019 and early 2020 saw an increase in fatalities, indicating possible outbreaks of more virulent strains or other complicating factors like healthcare challenges during these periods. Post-2019, there is a downward trend in cases, coinciding with improved health responses globally, likely affecting dysentery management positively. By late 2025, case numbers stabilize at lower levels, reflecting the impact of health policy measures and enhanced public sanitation efforts. This suggests significant strides in improving infrastructure and public health interventions, leading to better control over dysentery transmission and improved overall hygiene practices across mainland China.
Deaths Analysis
Between November 2015 and October 2025, the data from the Chinese mainland reveals a sporadic but relatively low dysentery-related mortality rate, with a total of 21 recorded deaths over a 10-year span. The mortality numbers contrast starkly with the fluctuating case counts, which typically ranged from a few thousand to over ten thousand cases per month. Notably, the months with reported deaths do not exhibit a consistent pattern in terms of cases, underscoring the unpredictable nature of dysentery complications leading to fatality. The peak period for cases appears to be from May to October each year, aligning with warmer months, yet these peaks do not invariably coincide with periods of increased mortality.
The data does not indicate a steady upward or downward trend in terms of deaths; rather, the deaths are sporadically scattered throughout the timeline. The highest number of deaths in a single month occurred in January 2020 with three fatalities, whereas many months had zero reported deaths despite high case numbers. Factors contributing to this variation could include improvements in medical treatment and sanitation, variations in pathogen virulence, or localized outbreaks in more vulnerable populations. Additionally, the apparent absence of deaths in some years, such as 2023, despite considerable case numbers, suggests effective management and containment strategies might have been implemented effectively during those periods.