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Is humanity facing new public health crises? After alarms were recently raised by the case of pneumonic plague in Russia, the rise in measles cases, alerts for Ebola, and cases of Cyclospora, it seems that one infection is stealing the attention of science.
As has been discussed, there is an intestinal infection that causes severe diarrhea and is weakening people's health. What is it? Is it dangerous?
It is shigellosis, an intestinal infection that can be transmitted during sexual relations, is on the rise, and is becoming more difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. According to data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), resistant strains went from representing 0% of cases in 2011 to 8.5% in 2023.
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What is the shigellosis infection?
The disease is caused by the Shigella bacteria and can cause diarrhea with blood or mucus, fever, vomiting, and severe abdominal cramps. Children under five, travelers, and people without adequate access to hygiene services also face a higher risk.
Although it is usually associated with contaminated food or water and poor hygiene, shigellosis can also spread during sexual activity, experts say.
The bacteria reaches the mouth through microscopic particles of fecal matter, and even a very small amount of microorganisms is enough to cause the serious infection.
However, some of the fastest increases have been observed among men in the LGBTQ community and other men who have sex with men. A study published in July 2026 found that, between 2015 and 2020, the spread linked to sexual relations grew 15% faster year-over-year than that associated with travel, food, or daycare outbreaks.
Geneticist Kate Baker of the University of Cambridge, the lead author of the research, warned that many people are unaware of this transmission route and it is important for them to know so they can take precautions.
The concern is not limited to the number of infections, but that it is not easy to treat. Drug resistance is reducing the options for treating serious cases; the specialist described the situation as a disease that has become “practically untreatable” compared to the previous decade.
One of the hypotheses studied is so-called indirect resistance: the use of an inappropriate antibiotic may not eliminate the bacteria and may favor the survival of resistant microorganisms.
Data also point to significant health consequences. Research cited in scientific journals has found that some people who contracted shigellosis sexually needed hospitalization for four or five days, on average.
What are all the symptoms of shigellosis?
The infection can cause severe dehydration and, in complicated cases, cause problems that require urgent medical attention. The CDC also lists:
- Fuerte diarrea con sangre o mucosidad
- Fiebre
- Vómitos
- Dolores abdominales intensos
Not all infected people need antibiotics, so treatment should be decided based on severity and clinical evaluation.
The CDC recommend avoiding self-medication with antibiotics, as bacterial resistance can make certain medications stop working and necessitate choosing treatment under medical guidance.
To reduce the risk of contagion, health authorities advise washing hands and cleaning the genitals and anus with soap and water before and after sexual relations; washing sex toys; and using barriers such as condoms and dental dams. The California Department of Public Health also recommends avoiding sexual relations with a person who has had diarrhea during the previous two weeks.
[Publicidad]