A parasitic infectious disorder caused by amoebas. The parasite may cause colitis which is manifested with bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and fever. In rare cases it may spread to the liver, brain and lungs
Symptoms of Amoebiasis
The following features are indicative of Amoebiasis:
abdominal cramps
diarrhea
fatigue
excessive gas
rectal pain
weight loss
It is possible that Amoebiasis shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
Get TabletWise Pro
Thousands of Classes to Help You Become a Better You.
Common Causes of Amoebiasis
The following are the most common causes of Amoebiasis:
entamoeba histolytica parasite
Risk Factors for Amoebiasis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Amoebiasis:
alcohol consumption
cancer
malnutrition
older or younger age
pregnancy
use of corticosteroid medications
Prevention of Amoebiasis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Amoebiasis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
washing hands before eating
drink purified or boiled water
do not eat uncooked vegetables or unpeeled fruit
Occurrence of Amoebiasis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Amoebiasis cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Amoebiasis can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Amoebiasis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Amoebiasis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Amoebiasis:
Stool test: To identify parasitic infection
Sigmoidoscopy: To detect infection in sigmoid colon
Radiography, Ultrasonography, Computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): To identify liver abscess, cerebral amoebiasis
Doctor for Diagnosis of Amoebiasis
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Amoebiasis:
Gastroenterologist
Complications of Amoebiasis if untreated
Yes, Amoebiasis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Amoebiasis is left untreated:
liver abscess
gastrointestinal bleeding
peritonitis
Self-care for Amoebiasis
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Amoebiasis:
Good hygiene: Wash hands before eating protect against infection
Drink purified or boiled water: Protect against amoebiasis
Do not eat uncooked vegetables or unpeeled fruit: Protect against amoebiasis
Time for Treatment of Amoebiasis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Amoebiasis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
In 1 - 3 months
Is Amoebiasis Infectious?
Yes, Amoebiasis is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
by contact with the mouth or rectal area of an infected person