infectious diseases
Amebiasis
Key Points
E. histolyticais often asymptomatic, but can cause intestinal symptoms, dysentery, or liver abscesses. Diagnose amebic intestinal infection using stool antigen tests, molecular tests for DNA, or microscopy. Diagnose amebic liver abscess using ultrasonography, CT, or MRI, or serologic tests, which are most helpful when previous infection is considered unlikely (eg, in travelers to endemic areas), or a therapeutic trial of an amebicide. Treat withmetronidazoleortinidazoleto eliminate amebic trophozoites, followed byiodoquinolorparomomycinto kill cysts in the intestine. 