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Bacteria & Parasites
These STDs
are any parasite, virus or bacteria found in feces that can
cause symptoms in your bowels.
The
three most common bacteria are Shigella, campylobacter and
salmonella. The first two are the most common among gay men,
and while salmonella is usually a result of contaminated food,
it can also show up among gay men as an STD.
The
three most common parasites among gay men are amoebas (E.
histolytica), giardia, and cryptosporidium. It's been estimated
that 10% of the world population is infected with amoebas,
although less than 10% of those infected will develop severe
symptoms.
How
do you get it?
Through any activity that transmits someone's fecal matter
to your mouth - rimming,
fingering, or sharing sex
toys. If you keep playing after anal sex, you can pick
up an infection from licking or sucking someone's balls, thighs,
belly, or butt cheeks.
How
do you avoid it?
Contrary to popular thinking, a good anal scrub doesn't really
help. As with hepatitis
A, however, an awareness of where your hands, mouth
and dick have been does. The bottom line is keeping an infected
person's fecal matter out of your mouth.
Symptoms?
As many as half of all infections have no symptoms. Most bacterial
and parasite infections are similar, ranging from watery diarrhea
without significant cramping to bloody diarrhea with sever
abdominal pain. In some cases, more systemic effects like
fever, nausea, vomiting and/or headache occur. Symptoms usually
begin within 24 to 36 hours of infection.
Testing
and treatment?
Your health care provider will collect a fecal sample and
get it tested, although stool samples often have to be repeated
as many as three times. Different antibiotics are prescribed
to combat different bacterial and parasitic infections. As
with any course of antibiotics, it is critical that you finish
the medication, even if your symptoms have subsided.
HIV
connection?
- If
you're HIV+
and take medications that cause episodes of diarrhea, a
bacterial or parasitic infection can go undetected and untreated.
- If
you have AIDS, these infections can more likely develop
into serious illnesses, which may recur after treatment.
What
else should you know?
When rimming, use a latex barrier, such as a dental dam, or
sheets of clear, non-microwavable plastic food wrap.
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