Since mid-2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has received a number of reports of shigellosis due to Shigella flexeri, a species of Shigella that is infrequently diagnosed in Pennsylvania. The cases have occurred in the southeastern part of the state among men who have sex with men (MSM) who may or may not be HIV-positive.

What is Shigella?

Shigella is one of the bacterial agents that causes acute diarrhea. Symptoms often include cramping, fever and vomiting. The infection spreads easily from person to person by the fecal-oral route since a very small number of organisms are necessary to produce transmission.

How do you catch Shigella?

The Pennsylvania Health Alert Network reports “Shigella outbreaks have been previously reported in MSMs and are usually correlated with having multiple partners combined with unprotected high-risk sexual behavior. The fact that some of these patients are also HIV infected raises added concerns, not only due to the potential for transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections through the same high risk behaviors, but also because immune-compromised individuals can have extended carriage of Shigella.” 

What can you do?

Persons with diarrhea usually recover completely, although it may be several months before their bowel habits are entirely normal. Once someone has had shigellosis, they are not likely to get infected with that specific type again for at least several years. However, they can still get infected with other types of Shigella. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent shigellosis. However, the spread of Shigella from an infected person to other persons can be stopped by frequent and careful hand-washing with soap.

For more information about Shigella, you can go to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention Website.

Almost a year ago, the Pitt Men’s Study sent out an alert about the rise in Syphilis cases in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the number of new infections is still on the rise. The disturbing fact is that the surge is being driven by cases among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Signs of Syphilis

Syphilis usually begins with the appearance of a sore (called a chancre) about 10 to 90 days after exposure. The chancre is usually
firm, round, small, and painless. The chancre lasts 3 to 6 weeks, and it heals on its own. However, the infection doesn’t go away without proper treatment.

As the disease progresses, it can include fever, swollen lymph glands, rash, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss,
muscle aches, and fatigue. The signs of this “secondary stage” of syphilis will resolve with or without treatment, but, again, it doesn’t go away.

In its later stages, years later, the disease can cause damage to internal organs, the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels,
liver, bones, and joints. Signs and symptoms of the “late stage” include difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness, and dementia. This damage may be serious enough to cause death.

What can you do?

Get tested. Syphilis is easily cured in its early stages. A single injection of penicillin will cure a person who has had syphilis for less
than a year.

For more information about MSM and syphilis, you can go to the CDC’s Syphilis and MSM web page

You can also go to the STD testing resource page. Enter your zip code to find testing centers near you.

Recent published studies have shown that gay and bi men smoke at higher rates than men in the general U.S. population. The American Cancer Society also reports that “tobacco companies aggressively target the gay community” and that “tobacco use takes the lives of 40,000 LGBT individuals each year.” 

Smoking has been directly linked to higher rates of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic lung diseases – just to name a few health hazards. So maybe its time to consider quitting. The National LGBT Tobacco Control Network suggests these strategies for quitting…

Talk with your doctor about your smoking and see if you are interested in taking a prescription medication that can help, like Zyban (also called Wellbutrin) or Chantix ( also called Verenicline). 

 Or, you may plan to take a type of nicotine replacement therapy, like the patch, gum or lozenge, which may be purchased over the counter.  Nicotine inhalers and nicotine spray are also replacement products, but are only available by prescription.  And new evidence shows we shouldn’t dial down the doses of this stuff as fast as previously thought, stay higher if needed.

Recent research demonstrates that enrolling in some type of stop smoking support program, like a group, individual counseling, or website, can increase your chances for success.  Call your state smoking Quitline for local resources at 1-800-QUITNOW. These programs help you with valuable skills (like learning your smoking triggers) and immediate social support.

Of course it isn’t that simple. But there are a lot of resources at your disposal in helping you to quit. Here are just a few links to get you started…

The CDC’s Gay and Bi health page smoking section

The LGBT National Tobacco Control Network

American Cancer Society fact sheet on smoking in the LGBT community