Amoebiasis

Amoebic dysentry or Enteritis

Causative agent–

Entamoeba histolytica.

Transmission by–

Contaminated  food and water

Types–

• Intestinal amoebiasis (invasive amoebiasis)
• Extraintestinal amoebiasis
• Asymptomatic amoebiasis

Symptoms and Signs—

Intestinal Amoebiasis

• Malaise
• Weight loss
• Mimic appendicitis.
• Acute colitis
• Ameboma formation
• Stools are heme-positive
• loose stools(10-12) with blood and mucus
• Spasmodic abdominal pain

Extraintestinal amoebiasis

Amoebic liver abscess

• Fever
• Right upper quadrant pain
• Tenderness of less than 10 days’ duration.
• Weight loss
• Cough
• Jaundice

Pleuropulmonary amebiasis

• Cough
• Pleuritic chest pain
• Respiratory distress

Cerebral amebiasis

• Abrupt onset of nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Mental status change

Investigations–

• Ultrasound
•  CT
•  MRI
•  X-ray
• Examination of stools under a microscope
•  Sigmoidoscopy 
• Serology – ELISA
• CBC

Treatment–

• Medicines
• Amoebic liver abscess aspiration

Complications–

• Amoebic cutis
• Amoebic peritonitis
• Amoebic vulvovaginitis
• Broncho pleural fistula
• Empyema lung
• Lung abscess
• Malnutrition
• Meningoencephalitis
• Pericolic and pericaecal abscess
• Pulmono pleural fistula
• Rectovaginal fistula
• Rectovesicle fistula
• Severe ulceration of the gastrointestinal mucosa
• Stunting of growth.
• Sub-diaphragmatic abscess

Prevention—

• Practice general hygiene(hand wash, separate towels, sanitary hygiene)
• Avoid raw vegetables when in endemic areas, as they may have been fertilized using human faeces.
• Boil water or treat with iodine tablets.
• Sedimentation and filtration of water supplies are necessary to reduce the incidence of infection
• Avoid eating Street Foods especially in public places where others are sharing sauces in one container