Shigella

Shigella is a bacterial intestinal infection that can be spread through sex. Since 2023, the infection has started to spread among men who have sex with men Europe. However, it is most common to get infected through food and water, especially when traveling abroad. Shigella infection is a so-called public hazard disease according to the Infection Control Act. You are therefore obliged to follow the rules of conduct that your doctor gives you and to participate in infection tracing aimed at finding the source of infection or other people who may have been infected.

The risk of transmission during sex is primarily through oral and anal sex, and the bacteria can be transmitted via hands, rimming (licking the anus) and if you share sex toys.

You can reduce the risk of becoming infected by:

• wash hands, genitals and anus with soap and water or shower before and after sex
• use condoms and change condoms between anal and oral sex
• avoid sharing sex toys
• wash hands after handling sex toys, condoms or anything else that has been in contact with the penis or anus.

Symptoms

Most commonly, within a week of having sex with a new partner, you will experience some of these symptoms:

• slimy diarrhea
• fever
• stomach cramps
• blood in the stool
• joint pain

Shigella is most easily transmitted when you still have diarrhoea, but can be transmitted up to a week after the last episode of diarrhoea.

Diagnostics and treatment

If you have symptoms, it is good to leave a stool sample at an infection clinic or health centre. A very few bacteria can be enough to make you sick.

Shigella is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. There is no vaccine for Shigella. In cases where you need to be treated with antibiotics, intravenous drip treatment is usually required, as tablets rarely have the same effect.

The infection itself is not dangerous in an otherwise healthy person, and often heals without anything other than rest and treatment with fluid replacement. Older people and children are often extra sensitive to intestinal infections.

Important to consider:

Good personal hygiene is important for the infected person and for the environment. Separate toilet is good if it is possible to arrange. If you have shigella, you should avoid cooking for other people; if this is nevertheless necessary; be careful with hand hygiene.

• Avoid sex while you have diarrhea and for 7 days after it passes
• Wait with rimming for a couple of weeks
• Be extra careful with hygiene before and after sex, if possible.
• You should not work while you have diarrhea
• Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet, before handling food and before eating.
• Keep the toilet seat and sink clean. Use your own towel.
• You should not swim in a pool as long as you have diarrhea
• If you work with food handling or in health care or childcare, you are obliged to inform your supervisor about your infection. You may not work until you have been tested and declared healthy by the responsible doctor.