{"id":4012,"date":"2026-10-14T02:37:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T02:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=4012"},"modified":"2026-10-14T02:37:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T02:37:57","slug":"sexually-transmitted-diarrhea-what-to-know-about-shigella","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=4012","title":{"rendered":"Sexually Transmitted Diarrhea: What to Know About Shigella"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAs if the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/health-and-wellness\/articles\/1235035292\/cyclospora-symptoms-treatment-2026-outbreak\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">diarrhea situation <\/a>couldn\u2019t get any worse, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/shigella\/about\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a> is warning about an extensively drug-resistant bacterial infection spreading through sexual contact.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe bacteria, known as <em>Shigella<\/em>, cause shigellosis, an intestinal infection that can bring on uncomfortable symptoms, including stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/75\/wr\/mm7513a1.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">a report<\/a> published April 9, the CDC found that the proportion of Shigella samples classified as XDR rose from 0 percent between 2011 and 2015 to 8.5 percent in 2023. Among patients with age and sex information available, 86.2 percent were adult men.<\/p>\n<section class=\"article-related-links \/\/ lrv-u-padding-a-050 a-background-color-body-inset-b-2@mobile-max\">\n\t<!-- disable-pmc_link_tags_to_related_posts-starts --><\/p>\n<article class=\"o-card a-background-color-body-offset-tl-n1@tablet lrv-u-padding-lr-1 lrv-u-padding-b-1 u-padding-a-1@tablet lrv-u-margin-t-1 lrv-u-border-a-1 lrv-u-border-color-brand-secondary\">\n<p>\t\t\t<a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/health-and-wellness\/articles\/1235035292\/cyclospora-symptoms-treatment-2026-outbreak\/\" class=\"lrv-u-flex@tablet\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-display-none@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-4x3 u-width-125@tablet\" style=\"\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-sheknows-2020\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cyclospora-symptoms-treatment-2026-outbreak.jpeg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"Woman washing hands with soap and water.\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"\" height=\"\" width=\"\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content u-margin-l-1@tablet\">\n<p><span class=\"c-span  u-letter-spacing-015 lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase a-font-secondary-bold-s lrv-u-font-size-14 lrv-u-margin-t-050 lrv-u-margin-t-1@desktop lrv-u-margin-b-025 u-margin-tb-00@tablet lrv-u-display-block\"><\/p>\n<p>\tRelated story<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"c-title  a-font-secondary-medium-s@mobile-max a-font-primary-xs@tablet lrv-u-line-height-normal lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-margin-b-1 u-margin-t-050@tablet lrv-u-padding-b-025 lrv-u-color-brand-primary:hover\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tCyclospora Is Surging Nationwide. Here&#8217;s How to Keep Your Kids Safe From the Gut-Wrecking Parasite\t\t<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n<p>\t<!-- disable-pmc_link_tags_to_related_posts-ends --><br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-accent-l   \">\n\t\tHow is XDR <em>Shigella <\/em>spread?\t<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWhat\u2019s worse, swallowing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/75\/wr\/mm7513a1.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">as few as 10 microscopic organisms<\/a> can be enough to make you sick. <em>Shigella <\/em>spreads through the fecal-oral route \u2014 meaning tiny amounts of infected poop make their way into someone\u2019s mouth. That can happen during sex, but also through contaminated food, water, hands, or surfaces. So, unfortunately, this isn\u2019t just a bedroom problem.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/health-and-wellness\/articles\/2505917\/mistakes-talking-condoms-sex-educators\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Condoms<\/a> and other barriers can reduce the risk, but preventing poop from getting onto hands, toys, or anything that might reach someone\u2019s mouth matters, too.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-accent-l   \">\n\t\tWhy is it harder to treat?\t<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe biggest issue with XDR <em>Shigella <\/em>(besides the fact that it\u2019ll give you \u201csevere\u201d diarrhea) is that it\u2019s drug-resistant. It doesn\u2019t respond to traditional treatment. That doesn\u2019t mean there are zero treatment options, but the CDC says no optimal treatment has been established, and lab testing should guide antibiotic choices when possible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMost <em>Shigella <\/em>infections resolve without antibiotics. Still, among the 258 patients with XDR infections, 97 (about 38 percent) were hospitalized.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-accent-l   \">\n\t\tHow can you reduce your risk?\t<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tTo protect yourself, wash your hands, genitals, and the anal area with soap and water before and after hooking up, use condoms, and thoroughly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/health-and-wellness\/articles\/3027542\/how-to-clean-sex-toys\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">clean your sex toys<\/a> between uses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAnd if you do catch a stomach bug, health experts advise abstaining from all sexual activity for at least two weeks after your diarrhea ends, as the bacteria can still be present in stool even when you feel totally fine.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/health-and-wellness\/articles\/1235086883\/sexually-transmitted-diarrhea-outbreak-shigella\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As if the diarrhea situation couldn\u2019t get any worse, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning about an extensively drug-resistant bacterial infection spreading through sexual contact. The bacteria, known as Shigella, cause shigellosis, an intestinal infection that can bring on uncomfortable symptoms, including stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever. In a report published April 9, the CDC found that the proportion of Shigella samples classified as XDR rose from 0 percent between 2011 and 2015 to 8.5 percent in 2023. Among patients with age and sex information available, 86.2 percent were adult men. Related story Cyclospora Is Surging Nationwide. Here&#8217;s How to Keep Your Kids Safe From the Gut-Wrecking Parasite How is XDR Shigella spread? What\u2019s worse, swallowing as few as 10 microscopic organisms can be enough to make you sick. Shigella spreads through the fecal-oral route \u2014 meaning tiny amounts of infected poop make their way into someone\u2019s mouth. That can happen during sex, but also through contaminated food, water, hands, or surfaces. So, unfortunately, this isn\u2019t just a bedroom problem. Condoms and other barriers can reduce the risk, but preventing poop from getting onto hands, toys, or anything that might reach someone\u2019s mouth matters, too. Why is it harder to treat? The biggest issue with XDR Shigella (besides the fact that it\u2019ll give you \u201csevere\u201d diarrhea) is that it\u2019s drug-resistant. It doesn\u2019t respond to traditional treatment. That doesn\u2019t mean there are zero treatment options, but the CDC says no optimal treatment has been established, and lab testing should guide antibiotic choices when possible. Most Shigella infections resolve without antibiotics. Still, among the 258 patients with XDR infections, 97 (about 38 percent) were hospitalized. How can you reduce your risk? To protect yourself, wash your hands, genitals, and the anal area with soap and water before and after hooking up, use condoms, and thoroughly clean your sex toys between uses. And if you do catch a stomach bug, health experts advise abstaining from all sexual activity for at least two weeks after your diarrhea ends, as the bacteria can still be present in stool even when you feel totally fine. Source link<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-female-health-issues"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4012"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4012\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}