Amebiasis

Abstract

Amebiasis, caused by Entamoeba histolytica, may be an acute or chronic disease. The organism is a protozoan and exists as trophozoite and in cystic form. The trophozoite remains harmless after colonization in the large intestine. The infection involves most frequently cecum and ascending colon and less frequently the rectosigmoid. Asymptomatic intraluminal Amebiasis is the most frequent form of infection. The diagnosis of Amebiasis is missed in more than 40% of the infected children as the physicians seldom think of it. If stool cultures and rectoscopy are negative for Amebiasis, serologic tests should be performed. Amebic colitis has to be differentiated from ulcerative colitis, corhn's disease and bacillary dysentery. Prophylactic measures consist of boiling of the drink water and eradication of the enteral Amebiasis. Nitroimidazole (Metronidazole) and its more recent derivative imidazole are effective in all three kinds of infection, i.e. itraluminal, intramural and systemic (Hepatic) Amebiasis.