Amoebiasis (Entamoeba Histolytica)
Description Diagnostic criteria General and supportive measures Medicine treatment ICD-10 code: A06.9 DESCRIPTION Amoebic colitis is caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica . It can cause localised intestinal disease or disseminated disease. Amoebiasis is now relatively uncommon in South Africa, but immunodeficiency is a risk factor. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA Clinical Diarrhoea with mucus, b
General and supportive measures
ICD-10 code: A06.9
DESCRIPTION
Amoebic colitis is caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. It can cause localised intestinal disease or disseminated disease. Amoebiasis is now relatively uncommon in South Africa, but immunodeficiency is a risk factor.
DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
Clinical
- Diarrhoea with mucus, blood and pus (dysentery).
- Liver abscesses:
- presents with point tenderness over the liver area,
- pleuritic type pain,
- fever (often fever of unknown origin).
Investigations (colitis):
- Trophozoites or cysts in fresh stool.
- Trophozoites in rectal smear (danger of perforation if biopsy is done).
- Serological tests (ELISA and agar gel diffusion).
GENERAL AND SUPPORTIVE MEASURES
Prevent infestation by:
- Hand washing.
- Careful preparation of foods by adequate washing and cooking.
Aspirate liver abscess if not responding to treatment in 5 days or if rupture is imminent.
MEDICINE TREATMENT:
- Metronidazole, oral, 15 mg/kg/dose 8 hourly for 7 days.
- 10 days in severe disease.
Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa Paediatric Hospital _2023, 5th edition_Updated July 2024
Chapter 8: Infective/Infectious Diseases, 8.2 Amoebiasis (Entamoeba Histolytica)