infections
Amebiasis
Treatment of Amebiasis
An amebicide and/or a drug to kill cysts If amebiasis is suspected and the person has symptoms, an amebicide (a drug that kills amebas)—eithermetronidazoleortinidazole—is used.Metronidazolemust be taken for 7 to 10 days.Tinidazolemust be taken for 3 to 5 days.Tinidazolehas fewer side effects thanmetronidazole. People should not drink alcohol while taking either of these drugs or for several days after stopping them because doing so may result in nausea, vomiting, flushing, and headaches.Nitazoxanidehas been proposed as an alternative for treating amebiasis.Metronidazole,tinidazole, ornitazoxanideis given to pregnant women only if the benefits outweigh the risks. Neithermetronidazole,tinidazole, nornitazoxanidekills all cysts that are in the large intestine. A second drug (such asparomomycin, diiodohydroxyquin, or diloxanide furoate) is used to kill these cysts and thus prevent a relapse. One of these drugs can be used alone to treat people who are not sick but haveEntamoeba histolyticain their stool. People who are dehydrated are given fluids. 