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Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Most people infected with Shigella develop diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps within a day or two after infection. For some, the diarrhea can be so severe that they may need to be hospitalized.  Others can have no symptoms at all, but are still able to transmit the Shigella bacteria.

How it's spread

You can get Shigella when feces comes in contact with your mouth.  This can happen with oral/anal sex play.  It can happen when you use your fingers or hand for anal sex play and then touch your moth.  Symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea (often bloody);
• Fever; and
• Stomach cramps.

Treatment

Shigellosis can usually be treated with antibiotics. Appropriate treatment kills the Shigella bacteria that are present in the patient's stool, and shortens the illness.

Prevention 

Wash every part of your body that is sexual with soap and water before, after and between sex play.  Use condoms or other kinds of barriers like dental dams, latex gloves or plastic wrap and be aware of what body parts may have come in contact with feces during sex play.  Wash them with soap and water.  Use condoms with sex toys, discard the condoms after use. Click here for testing sites.

If you're sexually active, sign-up for FREE STD testing reminders via email, text or both every 3 or 6 months at WeAllTest.com. If We All Test, we can help eliminate syphilis and other STDs in our community!