Shigellosis

Since 2023, an increasing number of cases of shigellosis infections have been detected in Berlin and Europe.

Shigellosis can be sexually transmitted through anal–oral contact, i.e. from the anus into the mouth or as smear infection, for example from the anus via a finger into the mouth during these sex acts:

• Rimming/Ass licking
• Anal sex, especially if followed by a blowjob
• Contact with used condoms or dildos
• Jointly used lube pots
• Jointly used anal toys
• Scat (fetishization of faeces)

Even the transmission of a few germs can cause symptoms. The incubation period is 1-4 days.

If you have cramping, prolonged diarrhea with bloody mucus, you should definitely visit a doctor’s office and point out the possibility of a Shigella infection.

Wenn du unter einer Durchfallerkrankung leidest, solltest du deine sexuellen Kontakte mindestens sieben Tage lang einschränken. Für 4 Wochen solltest du auf anal-orale Praktiken verzichten.

The disease

Symptoms typically appear one to several days after an infection and consist of diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, nausea, vomiting and headaches. However, the severity and duration of the disease can vary greatly from person to person. Besides severe cases with bloody, purulent diarrhea occurring 10 to 40 times a day, alongsidewith severe cramps, there are also cases in which there is only watery diarrhea, or entirely asymptomatic courses (but in which bacteria are still excreted). Without treatment, the ulcers caused by the bacteria can in rare cases break through the intestinal wall
and lead to life-threatening peritonitis.

Shigellosis can be particularly severe in people living with HIV, but also in young children and the elderly.

The bacteria usually disappear spontaneously from the stool after about 1-4 weeks, but the infection can also become chronic. The affected people then excrete Shigella in their stool over a long period of time – often without symptoms occurring – and thus represent a permanent source of infection for others.

Protection

• Condoms only provide limited protection against smear infections.
• Dildos and sex toys that are introduced anally should be washed thoroughly after use or before each use with a new partner and disinfected if possible or provided with a new condom.
• Generally do not use lubricating gel pots, but a new tube or similar for each butt.

Treatment

If you experience symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, nausea, vomiting and headaches, see a doctor.

Antibiotics are given as treatment. Strains resistant to some antibiotics are in circulation, so the standard treatment may not immediately work.

During threatment, thorough hand washing is necessary, especially after visiting the toilet and before preparing or eating meals.

Sex involving contact with the anus should be avoided until a proof of cure is obtained. People suffering from shigellosis may not work in communal facilities or in catering and food processing as long as they excrete shigella.