Amoebiasis Symptoms - What You Should Know

Key Symptoms of Amoebiasis You Should Watch For

Amoebiasis is a parasitic infection that mainly affects the intestines. Since it is a parasitic infection, it primarily causes symptoms such as diarrhoea. Amoebiasis is caused by consuming food or water contaminated with Entamoeba histolytica. If left untreated, it may even lead to severe complications and death.

This blog aims to provide an overview of amoebiasis symptoms, causes, and some treatment options.   

What is Amoebiasis?

Amoebiasis is caused by a protozoan parasite called Entamoeba Histolytica. This organism enters the human body through contaminated food or water. When this organism enters the human body, it invades the intestinal lining, which leads to amoebic dysentery.

If left untreated, it may lead to some severe complications and in some cases, death. It is mainly common in tropical countries with underdeveloped sanitary facilities. Poor sanitation means people do not have access to clean places to have a bowel movement, urinate, or dispose of household wastewater.

It also means a lack of access to clean water to wash hands. It mainly spreads through contact with faeces (poop or stool).

Who is at Risk of Contracting Amoebiasis?

You are more likely to develop this condition if you:

• Engage in anorectal intercourse (anal sex)
• Live in a place that has poor sanitary facilities and a lack of access to clean drinking water.
• Travel to a place with poor sanitation.

Some people infected with this parasite do not experience any symptoms at all. However, others may experience symptoms such as severe cramping, loose stool, and stomach pain.

Symptoms of Amoebiasis

Most people infected with amoebiasis experience no symptoms at all. About 10 to 20% of people who have contracted this disease show symptoms.

Symptoms, if any, generally show up four weeks after infection. They  mainly include the following:

• Diarrhoea (it is often accompanied by rectal bleeding)
• Fever
• Loose stool
• Nausea
• Abdominal Pain (Cramping)

Apart from the symptoms above, the trophozoites may breach the intestinal walls and enter the bloodstream. This parasite may travel to various body parts through the bloodstream. However, they commonly end up in the liver, heart, lungs, and brain. If the trophozoites invade an internal organ, it may cause:

• Abscesses
• Severe infections and illnesses
• If left untreated, it may also cause death.

If the parasite invades the intestinal lining, it may cause amoebic dysentery, which is a more dangerous form of amoebiasis. It leads to frequent watery and bloody stools and intense stomach cramps.

Causes of Amoebiasis 

As mentioned earlier, the parasite E. histolytica is responsible for the outbreak of amoebiasis. It is a microorganism that resides within the human body and obtains its nutrients from it. Later on, when this parasite lays eggs, they develop as cysts within the body. 

A person experiencing amoebiasis normally passes stool that contains the cysts. If another person accidentally comes in contact with even a small amount of this stool, they may also develop amoebiasis. 

Normally, amoebiasis is spread by:

Consuming Contaminated Food or Water

• When a person swallows food or water that already has cysts from the E. histolytica parasite, they may develop amoebiasis symptoms. These cysts do not get destroyed easily and can survive outside the body for a long period. 

Poor Hygiene and Sanitation

• Often, amoebiasis is caused by inadequate hygiene practices and poor sanitation. Therefore, the risk factors considerably rise in areas where waste management is unplanned and places have limited access to clean drinking water. 

Unwashed Fruits and Vegetables

• Edible food items that are not adequately cleaned may include amoebic cysts. Hence, if you consume these products, especially in locations where the irrigation water may be contaminated, you may develop amoebiasis.

 
Contact With Infected Individuals

• Amoebic dysentery can even spread via direct or indirect contact with infected persons in unsanitary settings. The risk of transmission increases after touching contaminated surfaces, sharing utensils, or consuming food or water from tainted sources.

Moving in Areas With High Infection Rates

• People who travel to zones where amoebiasis is prevalent are at a greater risk of developing the infection. These regions mostly encompass some countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where hygiene practices may be outdated.

Contaminated Soil

• In certain situations, the amoebic cysts can be present in soil that had earlier been contaminated with infected faeces. Activities like gardening or playing in this type of contaminated soil can cause infection without proper hygiene.

How Doctors Diagnose Amoebiasis?

There are several methods through which healthcare professionals diagnose amoebiasis. Let us discuss them below:

Stool Detection

Methods such as stool microscopy and stool antigen tests diagnose the infection. In stool microscopy, the laboratory tests three different stool samples for E. histolytica.

On the other hand, stool antigen tests identify E. histolytica proteins in your stools.

Blood Test

A blood test detects traces of the parasite in your blood. However, it will only show it after a week of being infected. Also, the blood test remains positive years after infection.

Liver Ultrasound

When your infection spreads to the liver and causes a liver abscess, an ultrasound can detect its presence.

Colonoscopy

If you consistently experience bloody diarrhoea, a colonoscopy might help detect the parasitic infection. Doctors use this method when other tests do not yield any results.

In this, doctors take a tissue sample from your colon and examine it under a microscope to detect any living organisms.

Amoebiasis Treatment Options

Common amoebiasis medications include Metronidazole or tinidazole. They are a form of antibiotic and are a prevalent first-line treatment.

Other than that, doctors also administer luminal amoebicides such as iodoquinol to treat this infection. These medications are designed specifically to kill amoebae.

If medicines do not work, experts may use surgery to treat amoebiasis.

How to Prevent Amoebiasis?

By practising caution in what you eat and drink, you can significantly lower your chance of getting amoebiasis. Here are some prevention techniques:

• Avoid drinking running tap water. Instead, drink bottled and sealed water.
• Always peel and wash your fruits and vegetables before consuming them.
• Reduce your exposure to faeces during sexual activity. You can do this by using protection and avoiding anal intercourse.
• Wash your hands properly using soap and water after using the toilet.

Amoebiasis in India: A Closer Look

As a developing nation with inadequate sanitation facilities, India exhibits a high incidence of amoebiasis. This is due to several factors, such as lack of access to clean drinking water, overcrowded urban settings, development of unhygienic slum areas, and improper sewage treatment.

In light of the above factors, researchers conducted a comprehensive systematic review to ascertain the nationwide prevalence and geographic distribution of amoebiasis in India. According to this study, 3-23% of people had asymptomatic amoebiasis and 0.6411% showcased symptomatic amoebiasis.

The study also reported the complications accompanying amoebiasis, such as amoebic liver abscess, ameboma, and colonic perforation, which lead to increased healthcare burden and mortality rates.

Therefore, India needs improved diagnostic methods and sanitation facilities to curb amoebiasis infection. By focusing on hygiene awareness, we can help provide better care and stop the spread of this infection.

Final Thoughts

Understanding what amoebiasis is caused by and its treatment options can significantly reduce the risk of delayed diagnosis and further complications. This infection can be controlled by spreading awareness and by practising proper hygiene.

In a country like India, where there is a lack of adequate sanitation facilities, public awareness is essential to control it. If you suspect to have contracted the parasite, you should approach a healthcare professional for proper treatment.