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Amoebiasis

Amoebiasis is a disease caused by a one-celled parasite called Entamoeba histolytica: Most of the infected people are healthy carriers. It means that they do not have symptoms of the infection.

Manifestation: About one in 10 people who are infected with E. histolytica become sick. The symptoms are often quite mild and can include loose stools, stomach pain, and stomach cramping. Amoebic dysentery is a severe form of amoebiasis associated with stomach pain, bloody stools, and fever. On very rare occasions, E. histolytica can invade the liver and forms an abscess. Less commonly still, it spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or brain.

Occurrence: The infection occurs worldwide. In developing countries with poor sanitary conditions nearly 50% of the people are infected. The occurrence of disease with abscesses is limited to infections in:
• Mexico
• South-America, Western part
• South Asia
• Western and South-Western Africa

Transmission: Infection is spread from person to person in case of poor sanitary conditions.

Diagnosis and treatment: Diagnosis is done by demonstrating amoebae in stools. Treatment is possible with good results.

Prevent amoebiasis by:
• Don’t put anything into your mouth that has touched the stool of a person who is infected with E. histolytica.
• Don’t swallow something, such as water or food that is contaminated with E. histolytica.
• Don’t touch and bring to your mouth cysts (eggs) picked up from surfaces that are contaminated with E. histolytica.
• Avoid sexual practices that allow faeces -oral contact.