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A sexually transmitted stomach bug is spreading
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Antibiotic-resistant shigellosis infections are spreading in the U.S., with an increasing number transmitted sexually, particularly among men who have sex with men, posing risks to vulnerable communities.
- Shigellosis causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and fever, typically resolving on its own but sometimes requiring antibiotics and hospitalization in severe cases.
- The infection primarily spreads through the fecal-oral route via contaminated food and water, but sexual transmission has become a significant and growing mode of spread, which traditional prevention methods may not effectively address.
- Nearly 15,000 shigellosis cases were reported across 47 states in 2026, consistent with previous years, but there is a concerning rise in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains, especially among adult men.
- XDR shigellosis presents a serious treatment challenge, particularly for children and disadvantaged populations, as the infection has become increasingly difficult to treat over the past decade.
