Shigella facts by City Clinic

What is shigella

Shigella is a bacterial infection that causes serious stomach cramps and diarrhea. It can easily be spread through rimming (oral-anal contact) and from oral contact with contaminated skin, including skin in the groin area, the testicles, and the penis. Shigella can also be spread through food and water contaminated by feces (poop).

Other bugs commonly spread through oral-anal sex that can cause stomach pain and diarrhea are parasites, including giardia, amebiasis, and cryptosporidium; other bacteria, including salmonella and campylobacter; and the hepatitis A virus.

How to treat shigella

Shigella sometimes goes away on its own and in other cases is treated with antibiotics. Some strains of shigella are resistant to antibiotics - if you have persistent or severe diarrhea, we recommend you see your PCP or go to an urgent care for evaluation.

How to avoid getting shigella

You can prevent shigella and other infections by washing your genitals and hands very thoroughly before and after sex, and by using a physical barrier (cut-up condoms, dental dams, or household plastic wrap) for oral-anal sexual activities.

It is also important to abstain from anal, oral, penile and vaginal sex if you or your partner are experiencing diarrhea, and for 2 weeks after the diarrhea ends.

This information is provided by San Francisco City Clinic.

Visit our homepage at sf.gov/cityclinic.

Information last revised October 2025