Entamoeba histolytica is an intestinal parasite that causes amebiasis. This is a gastrointestinal infection that presents with diarrhea, fever, chills, and bloody or white stools.
An Entamoeba histolytica infection can affect anyone, but it is more commonly seen in tropical climates with inadequate sanitary conditions. They can especially affecting babies and children, who are more likely to play on the floor and place things in their mouth. The main mode of transmission is through ingestion of water or food contaminated with this parasite.
Although it is relatively easy to treat, an Entamoeba histolytica infection that is left untreated can lead to dehydration and become life-threatening. Therefore, if you notice symptoms of infection, especially in children, it is important to seek medical attention and start treatment.
Main symptoms
The most common symptoms of an Entamoeba histolytica infection are:
- Mild to moderate abdominal discomfort
- Blood or mucus in the stool
- Intense diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration
- Fever and chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
It is important to identify an Entamoeba histolytica infection in its early phases so that dehydration can be prevented. Entamoeba histolytica parasites that persist in the body can spread past the intestinal walls and release cysts into the bloodstream, affecting other organs, like the live. This can lead to the growth of abscesses on the organs and possibly cellular death.
Symptoms of Entamoeba coli
Entamoeba coli is a parasite that is naturally found in the gut, and does not cause symptoms or an infection. This parasite can be picked up in a stool test, which can confirm the presence of E. coli cysts.
Confirming a diagnosis
An Entamoeba histolytica infection is diagnosed through an assessment of the person's symptoms as well as a parasitological stool test. This test involves the collection of three stool samples from different bowel movements days, as this can increase the likelihood of detection.
The doctor may also order a fecal occult blood (FOB) test to determine whether there is blood in the stool, or bloodwork to assess whether an active infection is present in the body or not.
If the doctor suspects that the infection has spread to other areas of the body, he or she may order an ultrasound or CT scan to examine whether any organs have been affected.
How it's transmitted
An Entamoeba histolytica infection is transmitted through the ingestion of cysts found in water or food that have been contaminated with infected feces.
When Entamoeba histolytica cysts enter the body, they lodge onto the walls of the intestines and release active forms of the parasite, which end up reproducing and migrating to the large intestine. They can spread beyond the large intestine, however, and spread to other areas of the body.
A person that is infected with Entamoeba histolytica can infect other people if their stool contaminates drinking water or the water used for bathing and washing dishes. Therefore, it is very important any water that could have been contaminated with sewage water.
Treatment options
Treatment for uncomplicated intestinal amebiasis is usually done only with a short course of metronidazole (up to 10 days). In some cases, the doctor may additionally prescribe medications to help relieve symptoms, like domperidone or metoclopramide.
In more severe cases of amebiasis, in which it has spread to other parts of the body, treatment will involve metronidazole as well as targeted treatment for any affected organs.
Prevention measures
To protect yourself from an Entamoeba histolytica infection, you should avoid contact with sewage water, untreated water, flood water, mud or rivers with stagnant water. It is also advisable to avoid using swimming pools that are not treated with chlorine.
In addition, if sanitation conditions are not ideal, you should always boil or treat water before using it for drinking, cooking or bathing.