Amebiasis - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Amoebiasis or amebiasis is a parasitic infection Entamoebae histolyticaor E. histolyticain the intestines. Amebiasis is common in tropical and developing countries which has poor sanitation system, including Indonesia.

This parasitic infection occurs when the larvae E. histolytica enter the human body through contaminated food or drink. This parasite can also enter the human body through the skin when a person comes in contact with feces contaminated by the parasite.

Causes of Amebiasis

Amebiasis occurs when parasites E. histolytica enter the body and remain in the intestine. Here's how it's transmitted E.histolytica:

  • Consuming contaminated food and drink histolytica
  • Contact with contaminated soil, water, fertilizer or feces histolytica
  • Contact with contaminated objects histolytica, including toilet seat
  • Having anal sex with a person with amebiasis

Usually, larvae E.histolytica is in an inactive state if it is in water, soil, fertilizer, or patient feces. However, once inside the body, the larva E. histolytica become active (trophozoites). Active larvae will breed in the digestive tract, then move and settle on the wall of the large intestine.

A person who frequently travels to tropical countries or areas that have many cases of amebiasis is at risk of being infected with this parasite. If already infected E.histolytica, the following factors can make the infection worse:

  • Alcohol addiction
  • Using corticosteroid drugs for a long time
  • Experiencing malnutrition
  • Suffering from cancer
  • Is pregnant

Symptoms of Amebiasis

Symptoms that appear when a person has amebiasis will appear within 7–28 days after being infected with the parasite. Most sufferers will only experience the following symptoms:

  • Diarrhea
  • stomach cramps
  • Excessive wind
  • Very tired

If left unchecked, the parasites can penetrate the intestinal wall and cause sores. This parasite can also spread to the liver through the blood vessels and cause a liver abscess (collection of pus).

If the condition is severe, sufferers may experience the following symptoms:

  • Severe upper abdominal pain
  • Dysentery or diarrhea with stools mixed with mucus and blood
  • High fever
  • Throws up
  • Swollen belly
  • Jaundice (jaundice)

When to go to the doctor

Check with your doctor if you experience the symptoms of amebiasis mentioned above. If amebiasis is quickly diagnosed and treated, the risk of complications can be prevented.

Immediately consult a doctor if you experience severe symptoms of amebiasis, such as diarrhea that lasts for more than 2 weeks, dysentery, and symptoms of dehydration.

Amebiasis Diagnosis

To diagnose amebiasis, the doctor will ask the patient's complaints and symptoms, as well as a history of visits to certain areas, medical history, and how the patient's lifestyle is. Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination.

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will perform supporting examinations which include:

  • Stool test, to find the presence histolytica
  • Blood tests, to detect infection in the blood and the presence or absence of anemia, and to assess liver function
  • Scans with CT scan or ultrasound, to detect inflammation or abscesses in the liver or certain organs
  • Colonoscopy, to detect abnormalities in the large intestine and colon
  • Needle biopsy, to detect the presence of parasites by taking a sample from the liver abscess

Amebiasis Treatment

Treatment of amebiasis aims to kill the parasite, reduce the risk of spreading the parasite to other parts of the body, and treat complaints and symptoms. Treatment for amebiasis includes:

Giving omedicine

Medications to treat amebiasis include:

  • Antibiotic drug

    Antibiotics, such as metronidazole or tinidazole, It is used to kill parasites in the body. This drug is usually given with antiparasites, such as diloxanide furoate.

  • anti-nausea drug

    Anti-nausea drugs are given to relieve nausea that often occurs in patients with amebiasis.

Body fluid replacement

Patients with amebiasis are advised to consume lots of water and ORS to replace fluids lost due to diarrhea. If the dehydration condition is severe enough, the patient needs to be treated in a hospital.

Operation

If the amebiasis causes intestinal perforation (rupture of the intestine) or severe colitis (fulminant colitis), the doctor will perform surgery to remove the problematic intestine. In addition, surgery can also be performed to treat liver abscesses that do not improve after antibiotics.

Amebiasis Complications

Untreated amebiasis can lead to a number of complications, such as:

  • Anemia due to intestinal bleeding, especially in patients with inflammatory bowel diseaseamebic colitis)
  • Blockage or obstruction of the intestine due to a lump of tissue in the intestine (amoeboma)
  • Liver disease, such as amebic liver abscess, which is the formation of an abscess in the liver tissue
  • Sepsis, which is the spread of a parasitic infection throughout the body, including the brain

Amebiasis Prevention

Amebiasis can be prevented by adopting a clean and healthy lifestyle. Some steps that can be taken are:

  • Practice hand washing with soap and running water. Do it especially after urinating or defecating, before and after eating or processing food, and after changing the baby's diaper.
  • Wash vegetables or fruit thoroughly and peel them before consuming.
  • Wash cookware thoroughly before use.
  • Bring water to a boil before drinking.
  • Consumption of milk and dairy products that have gone through the pasteurization process.

Do not share the use of toiletries, such as towels, soap, or toothbrushes, with other people.