Amoebiasis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Amoebiasis is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. It primarily affects the intestine and can spread to internal organs in severe cases.
Things worth knowing about "Amoebiasis"
Amoebiasis is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. It primarily affects the intestine and can spread to internal organs in severe cases.
What is Amoebiasis?
Amoebiasis is a parasitic infectious disease caused by the single-celled organism Entamoeba histolytica. The parasite primarily affects the large intestine but can, in severe cases, spread to other organs such as the liver, lungs, or brain. Amoebiasis is one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide and is particularly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as in areas with limited sanitation.
Causes and Transmission
Infection occurs through the oral ingestion of cysts, which are the resistant, dormant forms of the parasite. These typically enter the human body through contaminated water or food. Direct person-to-person transmission via poor hand hygiene is also possible.
- Drinking contaminated water
- Consuming raw or unwashed fruits and vegetables
- Fecal-oral transmission due to inadequate hygiene
- Traveling to high-risk areas (Asia, Africa, Latin America)
Symptoms
Many people infected with Entamoeba histolytica develop no symptoms or only mild discomfort. However, a portion of infected individuals develop an active illness with varying degrees of severity.
Intestinal Symptoms (Intestinal Amoebiasis)
- Diarrhea, sometimes with blood and mucus (amoebic dysentery)
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
Extra-intestinal Amoebiasis
In rare cases, amoebae travel through the bloodstream to other organs. The most common extra-intestinal manifestation is a liver abscess, which presents with right-sided upper abdominal pain, high fever, and general malaise.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of amoebiasis is established using several methods:
- Stool microscopy: Detection of cysts or trophozoites (the active form of the parasite) in the stool
- Antigen test: Detection of parasite-specific proteins in stool using ELISA
- Serology: Blood test to detect antibodies, particularly useful in liver abscess cases
- PCR test: Molecular detection of the pathogen, highly sensitive and specific
- Imaging: Ultrasound or CT scan when a liver abscess is suspected
Treatment
Treatment of amoebiasis depends on the severity of the infection and the organs involved.
Drug Therapy
The first-line treatment for symptomatic amoebiasis is metronidazole, an antibiotic from the nitroimidazole group that acts against the active tissue forms of the parasite. This is typically followed by a luminal amoebicide such as paromomycin to eliminate any remaining cysts in the intestine and prevent further spread.
- Metronidazole: 7–10 days, for the treatment of invasive disease
- Paromomycin or diloxanide furoate: Follow-up treatment to eliminate intestinal cysts
Liver Abscess
A liver abscess is also treated with metronidazole. In certain cases, drainage of the abscess may be required.
Prevention
Preventive measures are especially important when traveling to high-risk regions:
- Drink only boiled or purified water
- Avoid raw foods or wash and peel them thoroughly
- Wash hands regularly and thoroughly
- Avoid street food in high-risk areas
References
- World Health Organization (WHO): Amoebiasis. Weekly Epidemiological Record, 1997.
- Petri WA Jr., Singh U.: Diagnosis and Management of Amebiasis. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 1999.
- Stanley SL Jr.: Amoebiasis. The Lancet, 361(9362):1025–1034, 2003.
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