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Amoebiasis
Medical Questions » Amoebiasis
| Name: Amoebiasis |
| Also known as: Amoebic Dysentery |
| Infestation of the gut with single-celled animals (amoebae). Relatively common in many third-world countries. |
Causes of Amoebiasis
Swallowed amoebae usually infest the gut and liver, and very rarely the brain and lung. Amoebae are passed out with the feces, and if this contaminates food or water, they can be picked up by others. Some people have very mild infections and act as carriers, steadily infecting more and more people. |
Symptoms of Amoebiasis
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, mucus and blood in the feces, fever, and in severe cases the bowel may rupture, leading to peritonitis and death. |
Tests for Amoebiasis
Diagnosed by finding the amoebae in the feces when examined under a microscope, or by special blood tests that detect antibody changes caused by amoebae. |
Treatment for Amoebiasis
Controlled by strict attention to personal hygiene, cooking food and boiling water. Treated with one or more of a number of drugs to kill the amoebae, but they have significant side effects and may need to be used for
several weeks. An abscess needs to be drained surgically.
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Complications of Amoebiasis of its treatment
If the amoebae enter the liver from the gut, an abscess (see separate entry) can form in the liver and cause severe pain. |
Likely Outcome of Amoebiasis
If left untreated, severely affected patients will die, but modern treatment methods lead to the total recovery of the majority. |
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