Although shigellosis is a potentially fatal disease that may cause a number of extra-intestinal manifestations, intractable septic shock is an unusual complication. Here we describe a 6-month-old infant who developed severe septic shock and convulsions during an episode of dysentery caused by multidrug-resistant Shigella dysenteriae. The case presentation demonstrates how shigellosis can lead to rare and potentially misleading complications such as septic shock when not treated adequately and promptly.