Risk factors

• Being a child. Children under age 5 are most likely to get shigella infection. But shigella can infect people of any age.
• Living in group housing or participating in group activities. Close contact with other people spreads the bacteria from person to person. Shigella outbreaks are more common in child care centers, community wading pools, nursing homes, jails and military barracks.
• Living or traveling in areas that lack sanitation. People who live or travel in developing countries are more likely to get shigella infection.
• Being a man who has sex with men. Men who have sex with men are at higher risk of shigella infection because of direct or indirect oral-anal contact during sexual activity.