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Entamoeba histolytica is a parasite that can cause serious digestive tract infections. It is found in soil and water and can be contracted by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated vegetables. Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Treatment with antibiotics is usually effective.
Entamoeba histolytica is a single-celled parasite that has the potential to cause serious digestive tract infections in humans. It is found worldwide in soil and water and is particularly prevalent in highly populated, poor and unhealthy regions. Most healthy adults have a strong enough immune system to fight off Entamoeba histolytica infections, but a very young, elderly or sick person can suffer from severe symptoms. Treatment in the form of oral or intravenous antibiotics is usually effective in killing the pathogen in about two weeks.
An individual can contract Entamoeba histolytica by drinking contaminated water, eating fresh vegetables grown in contaminated soil, or by coming into direct contact with the feces of another infected person. In most cases, the immune system is able to kill new parasites before they mature and start causing problems. If the immune system is too weak, Entamoeba histolytica thrives in the stomach and intestines, embedding itself in the walls and replicating rapidly.
Symptoms typically appear two to four weeks after the initial infection. Early signs may include diarrhea, nausea, fatigue and stomach cramps. If left untreated, an infection can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and painful, bloody diarrhea. There’s also a risk of the parasite escaping from the digestive tract and entering the bloodstream, where it can travel to the liver and other organs and create painful cysts. Serious Entamoeba histolytica infections can cause life-threatening bleeding, breathing, and heart complications.
A person experiencing digestive symptoms that don’t go away within a few days should visit a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. After reviewing your symptoms and asking about living conditions, a doctor typically requests a stool sample that can be analyzed in a laboratory. Positive laboratory tests for Entamoeba histolytica may prompt your doctor to do additional tests to determine the extent of the infection, such as blood screening and taking pictures of internal organs.
In the case of a relatively minor infection, a patient is usually prescribed an oral antibiotic and instructed to rest and drink plenty of water. Iodoquinol and paromomycin are commonly given over the course of at least two weeks. If major symptoms exist, it may be necessary to hospitalize a patient and administer intravenous medications and fluids for at least a week. Surgery is only needed if the parasite has caused permanent damage to the colon, liver, or other organ. With prompt and thorough medical care, even serious infections can usually be cured.
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