It's that time of the year again when colds, flu and other nasty bugs are getting spread around quicker than Christmas fever.

However, a particularly horrible winter vomiting, known as Shigellosis or shigella, has started doing the rounds.

It is more common in young people than adults and often peaks in early autumn.

What are the symptoms?

The infectious disease has the following symptoms: Chronic diarrhoea Painful stomach cramps High temperature (fever) Nausea It tends to last between five and seven days.

How can you stop it spreading?

It is important to have good hygiene, for example washing your hands after going to the toilet, and try to avoid direct contact with anyone who has the disease, including through touching doorknobs and toilet handles which haven't been washed after someone infected has touched them.

The bug is usually passed on in places where people have close contact to each other, such as schools and work.

Children who have picked up the illness are being told to remain at home for at least five days until tests show they are clear to prevent them passing it on.

How is it treated?

Although not pleasant, the bug is rarely serious.

It is best to rest and to keep hydrated as diarrhoea can lead to dehydration. Medication is usually not needed and symptoms will clear up on their own.

Medicines to reduce the diarrhoea (such as loperamide) should NOT be used if you have shigella. This is because they can make the symptoms worse.

Paracetamol or ibuprofen is useful to ease a high temperature (fever) or headache.