infections
Amebiasis
Symptoms of Amebiasis
The majority of infected people have few or no symptoms. However, they excrete cysts in stool and can thus spread the infection. Amebiasis symptoms typically develop over one to three weeks and may include Diarrhea, sometimes with blood visible in the stool Cramping abdominal pain Weight loss and fever In severe cases, the abdomen is tender when touched, and people may develop severe diarrhea with stools that contain mucus and blood (called dysentery). Some people have severe, crampy abdominal pain and a high fever. Diarrhea may lead to dehydration. Wasting of the body (emaciation) and anemia can occur in people with chronic infection. Sometimes large lumps (amebomas) may form inside the large intestine (colon). In some people, the amebas spread to the liver where they can cause an abscess. Symptoms include fever, sweats, chills, weakness, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and pain or discomfort in the upper right part of the abdomen over the liver. Rarely, amebas spread to other organs (including the lungs or brain). The skin may also become infected, especially around the buttocks (infection that has spread from contaminated stool), genitals (for example, penis ulcers from anal intercourse with an infected person), or wounds caused by abdominal surgery or injury. 