Amebiasis

Alternative names:

amebic dysentery; intestinal amebiasis

Symptoms:

Mild symptoms:

• diarrhea
  • 3 to 8 semiformed stools per day with mucus and occasionally blood

• abdominal cramps
• fatigue
• weight loss
• intestinal gas (excessive flatus/gas)

Severe symptoms:

• stools, bloody
  • liquid stools with streaks of blood
  • 10 to 20 stools per day

• fever
• vomiting
• abdominal tenderness

Note: In most people there are no symptoms.

Signs and tests:

Examination of the abdomen may show liver enlargement.

Tests include:

• stool culture of 3 stool specimens at 2-day intervals or longer
• sigmoidoscopy
• serology for amebiasis
• indirect hemagglutination test (see Coombs' test, indirect)