Amebic dysentery

Jun Hyuk Ko

Amebic dysentery, also called Amebiasis, is a type of dysentery caused primarily by the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica. Amoebic dysentery is transmitted through contaminated food and water. Amoebae spread by forming infective cysts which can be found in stools, and spread if whoever touches them does not sanitize their hands. There are also free amoebae, or trophozoites, that do not form cysts, however trophozoites do not survive long outside of the human gastrointestinal tract, and are a purely diagnostic observation. Trophozoites are the agent responsible for symptoms. Amoebic dysentery is most common in developing countries although it is occasionally seen in industrialized countries, and not just in travellers. The common symptoms of amebic dysentery may include violent diarrhea, often accompanied with blood and/or mucus in the stool, foulsmelling stools, indigestion, frequent flatulence, Dehydration and sometimes severe abdominal cramps and tenderness on the stomach, slight weight loss, anemia, moderate fever, mild fatigue and mild chills. These can also be caused by or result in other diseases. The amoebae may be then carried in the blood to the liver resulting in the formation of an abscess that presents the following symptoms: fever, chills, mild diarrhea, pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen, jaundice, weight loss and hepatomegaly.

Amoebic dysentery can be treated with metronidazole but must be followed up with a second luminal drug to eliminate amoebae from the intestine. Amoebic dysentery does not have a vaccine, but can be avoided.

References : Wikipedia, MedinePlus Medical Encyclopedia