Amoebic dysentery

Amoebic dysentery (or amebic dysentery) is a type of dysentery caused primarily by the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica.^[1] 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. Although it is commonly associated with tropical climates, the first documented case was in St Petersburg, Russia. Amoebic dysentery is often confused with "traveler's diarrhea", or "Montezuma's Revenge" in Mexico, because of the prevalence of both in developing nations. In fact, most traveller's diarrhea is bacterial or viral in origin. Liver infection, and subsequent amoebic abscesses can occur. Blood may be present in stool.

It can be considered equivalent to intestinal amoebiasis.^[2]

Treatment

Amoebic dysentery can be treated with metronidazole but must be followed up with a second lumenal drug to eliminate amoebae from the intestine (see Amoebiasis for more detail). Amoebic Dysentery does not have a vaccine, but can be avoided.

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