infectious diseases
Amebiasis
Symptoms and Signs of Amebiasis
Most people with amebiasis are asymptomatic but chronically pass cysts in stools. Symptoms that occur with tissue invasion in the colon usually develop 1 to 3 weeks after ingestion of cysts and include Intermittent diarrhea and constipation Flatulence Cramping abdominal pain Tenderness over the liver or ascending colon and fever may occur, and stools may contain mucus and blood. Amebic dysentery, common in the tropics, manifests with episodes of frequent semiliquid stools that often contain blood, mucus, and live trophozoites. Abdominal findings range from mild tenderness to frank abdominal pain, with high fevers and toxic systemic symptoms. Abdominal tenderness frequently accompanies amebic colitis. Sometimes, fulminant colitis complicated by toxic megacolon or peritonitis may develop. Between relapses, symptoms diminish to recurrent cramps and loose or very soft stools, but emaciation and anemia may develop. Symptoms suggesting appendicitis may occur. Surgery in such cases may result in peritoneal spread of amebas. Chronic amebic infection of the colon can mimic Overview of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and manifests as intermittent nondysenteric diarrhea with abdominal pain, mucus, flatulence, and weight loss. Chronic infection may also manifest as tender, palpable masses or annular lesions (amebomas) in the cecum and ascending colon. Ameboma may be mistaken for Extraintestinal amebic disease originates from infection in the colon and can involve any organ, but a liver abscess is the most common. Liver abscessis usually single and in the right lobe. It can manifest in patients who have had no prior symptoms, is more common among men than among women (7:1 to 9:1), and may develop insidiously. Symptoms include pain or discomfort over the liver, which is occasionally referred to the right shoulder, as well as intermittent fever, sweats, chills, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and weight loss. Jaundice is unusual and low grade when present. The abscess may perforate into the subphrenic space, right pleural cavity, right lung, or other adjacent organs (eg, pericardium). Skin lesionsare occasionally observed, especially around the perineum and buttocks in chronic infection, and may also occur in traumatic or operative wounds. 