Amoebic Dysentery

Amoebic Dysentery is a severe diarrhea illness mainly caused by Endamoeba histolytica which is associated with blood in the feces. It is the infection of the large intestine, sometimes involving the liver. It causes diarrhoea among other symptoms. Amoebae are parasites that are found in contaminated food or drink. They enter the body through the mouth when the contaminated food or drink is swallowed. It is a disease in which inflammation of the intestines affect the body significantly. Amoebic dysentery is passed on by careless or negligent hygiene where contaminated food and drink is consumed without adequate heat treatment. The amoebae are then able to move through the digestive system and take up residence in the intestine and cause an infection. About 10% of the world's population is infected with amoebas. Amoebic dysentery is transmitted by contaminated water , and is well known as a "traveler's dysentery" because of its prevalence in developing nations, or " Montezuma's Revenge " (particularly in Mexico ), although it is occasionally seen in industrialized countries. Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Entamoeba histolytica. Amoebic dysentery is seen more often in people arriving from

• tropical or subtropical areas,
• individuals in institutions for the developmentally disabled and

Amoebic dysentery is transmitted by contaminated water, and is well known as a "travellers dysentery", although it is occasionally seen in industrialized countries. Liver infection, and subsequent amoebic abscesses can occur. It can be treated with metronidazole or related azole drugs. Amoebic Dysentery is the inflammation of the intestines characterized by severe diarrhea. There are two major types: shigellosis , which is caused by one of several types of Shigella bacteria ; and amoebic dysentery , which is caused by the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica . Kiyoshi Shiga discovered the dysentery bacteria in 1898 . When the cysts reach the intestine of another person the individual amoebae are released from the cysts and are able to cause infection. Travellers to countries with poor sanitation are at greater risk of contracting the disease (hence known as traveller's diarrhoea). In adults, dysentery caused by bacteria usually subsides spontaneously. But in children, and other vulnerable groups, the condition can be treated with antibiotics.

Causes of Amoebic Dysentery

Here are the list of some of the causes of Amoebic Dysentery

• Salads washed with contaminated water are a common method of spread.
• It is caused by ingestion of food containing bacteria, a disease in which inflammation of the intestines affect the body significantly.
• Frequently affects people whose hygiene is poor.
• If you swallow contaminated food that contains the free amoebae (trophozoites) hardly anything is likely to happen, because they usually die in the stomach on account of its acidity.
• It is the infection of the large intestine, sometimes involving the liver. It causes diarrhoea among other symptoms.

What are the symptom of Amoebic dysentery ?

People exposed to Amoebic dysentery disease may experience mild or severe symptoms or no symptoms at all. Some common sign and symptoms of Amoebic Dysentery :

• The main symptom of epidemic dysentery is bloody diarrhea.
• Amoebae Dysentry spread by forming infective cysts which can be found in stools and spread if whoever touches it does not wash their hands.
• Symptoms are most likely to appear in places with poor hygiene.
• Other common symptoms include abdominal cramps, fever and rectal pain. Less frequent complications can include a form of blood poisoning known as sepsis , seizure and kidney failure.
• There are also free amoebae, or �trophozoites�, that do not form cysts. Symptoms are most likely to appear in places with poor hygiene.

How do you get Amoebic dysentery?

Entamoeba histolytica can exist in two forms in contaminated food and drink:

• as free amoebae (known as 'trophozoites')
  
• as infective cysts, which are a group of amoebae surrounded by a protective wall, that have been passed (excreted) in the carrier's faeces (human or animal).

Sign, tests and diagnosis of Amoebic dysentery

Anyone who develops Amoebic dysentery< should see a doctor as soon as possible. Examination of stools under a microscope is the most common way for a doctor to diagnose amebiasis. Sometimes, several stool samples must be obtained because the number of amoeba changes from day to day.

Amoebic dysentery Treatment

Amoebic dysentery is passed on by careless or negligent hygiene where contaminated food and drink is consumed without adequate heat treatment. Metronidazole is used in the treatment of Amoebic dysentery disease. It is important to avoid drinking alcohol during treatment. Treatment methods for treating Amoebic Dysentery are as follows:

• Amoebic dysentery is usually treated with a combination of drugs. These include an amoebicide to kill the parasite , an antibiotic to treat any associated bacterial infection , and a drug to combat infection of the liver and other tissues.
• In adults, dysentery caused by bacteria usually subsides spontaneously. But in children, and other vulnerable groups, the condition can be treated with antibiotics.
• These amoebas also may pass into the bloodstream and sometimes travel to the liver and rarely, to the brain, where they can form pockets of infection leading to abscesses.

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