Diagnostic Code 6334 · 38 CFR §4.88b
Shigella infections cause bacillary dysentery — severe bloody diarrhea with abdominal pain, fever, and dehydration. Shigella is highly contagious and spreads rapidly in military units. The VA uses the General Rating Formula. Residuals including hemolytic-uremic syndrome and reactive arthritis are specifically noted and rated under appropriate body system codes.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Active shigella infection with confirmed culture and systemic symptoms during treatment. |
| 0% | Resolved. Residuals including hemolytic-uremic syndrome and reactive arthritis are rated under appropriate body system codes. |
Stool culture confirming Shigella species. Service medical records. Deployment records to areas with poor sanitation. Documentation of post-infectious complications. Nexus letter linking chronic conditions to the infection.
Very common, especially in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia where contaminated water and poor field sanitation create ideal conditions for outbreaks.
An autoimmune joint condition triggered by certain bacterial infections. Shigella is a classic trigger. It develops 1-4 weeks after the GI infection and can become chronic.