Epidemiologic and clinical aspects of shigellosis in American forces deployed to Saudi Arabia.

I describe nine cases of shigellosis seen at a large Navy field hospital in troops deployed to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Eight cases were associated with consumption of food at civilian restaurants or civilian-contracted food services. Two adults had "pseudomeningitis" syndromes, illustrating that shigellosis in adults may initially be misdiagnosed. All patients responded rapidly to rehydration and oral fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin) therapy. Five patients received an antimotility agent without apparent adverse effect.