Commentary on Dysentery amoebiasis’s Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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Dysentery amoebiasis or amoebic dysentery or amebiasis is described as a gastrointestinal infection caused by a parasite called Entamoeba histolytica, with or without clinical signs. Although 90% of E. histolytica infections are asymptomatic, amoebiasis might present symptoms such as diarrhea that contains blood or mucus. This disease is commonly caused by consuming food or water contaminated by feces containing E. histolytica cyst, the infectious form of the parasite, but it can also be spread sexually by oral-anal contact. Infection occurs worldwide but it is more common in low-income countries with inadequate public health. Developing countries of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia have high rates of infection. Amebiasis generally affects individuals of all ages and there is no gender difference in amebiasis in children. However, invasive disease is more common in males than females in the adult population.

Diarrhea is defined as increase in water content in stools caused by an imbalance in the normal functioning of intestines that are responsible for the absorption of different ions, other substrates, and ultimately water. Diarrhea is categorized into acute or chronic and infectious or non-infectious. Infection is the common cause of diarrhea and most cases are caused by viral infection so typically characterized by non-bloody watery stools. On the other hand, dysentery is an intestinal infection that causes bloody or mucus-filled diarrhea. There are two main types of dysentery, amoebic and bacillary dysentery.

Amebiasis can be diagnosed by observing the organism using direct microscopy of stools or rectal swabs. If your doctor suspects you have dysentery, they will request a stool culture and send your sample to a laboratorium. However cultures are not always positive with a success rate of roughly 60% and present in only 30% of cases. The severity of your diarrhea can be determined by a complete blood count, electrolyte measurements, and kidney function test. A colonoscopy can also be considered suitable when the stool tests are negative for amebiasis. Your physician may order additional testing like CT scan particularly in extraintestinal amebiasis cases.

Dysentery is potentially fatal and extremely dangerous if not treated properly especially to young children, people over the age of 50, pregnant women, and those who have dehydration or malnutrition. The mortality rate is less than 1% for patients who have uncomplicated infections and receive early treatment. Thus, all E. histolytica infection must be treated to eliminate the possibility of spreading and developing extraintestinal symptoms. Patients should contact their healthcare provider if they have symptoms of diarrhea and bloody stools to receive further examination and proper treatment. Treatment of this disease includes antibiotics that must be prescribed by a physician and symptomatic medication such as antiemetic. Patients are also advised to drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration.

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