Amoebic colitis is an intestinal disease caused by a protozoan parasite Entamoeba Histolitica. Colitis is a basic term used for an inflammation in the lining of large intestinal tract. When it is caused by amoeba E. Histolitica, it is referred as amoebic colitis.
The disease in medical parlance is likewise known as amoebiasis. Often the disease runs a chronic course with periodic intense worsenings.
The disease prevails worldwide, however is more typical in warm environments and unhygienic conditions.
The disease runs a mild course with main symptoms such as abdominal cramps and sticky diarrhea. Nevertheless, heavy infection can cause amoebic dysentery with symptoms of abdominal pain, blood and mucus in stool, and fever.
Just 10% of infected people establish disease, while in rest the amoeba lives a hidden life excreting cysts in stool. These patients function as provider of the disease.
Causes of Amoebic Colitis
The causative organism is Entamoeba Histolitica; it is a parasite belonging to protozoan family. E. Histolitica is single cell organism mainly affecting humans. The disease is prevalent all over the world, but more typical in underdeveloped nations, having poor sanitation centers.
Infection is gotten by consuming food and water polluted with cysts of E. Histolitica passed in stool. Food prepared or served by an individual who has actually not cleaned his hands after defecation can likewise become a source of transmission.
Amoebic colitis can affect adults in addition to children. A single person infected in a family can quickly spread infection to other relative if health and sanitation facilities are poor.
Signs and Symptoms of Amoebic Colitis
The clinical spectrum of amebic colitis varies. The symptoms develop within 2 to 6 weeks after the ingestion of amebic cysts. Diarrhea and constipation may alternate.
The stools generally include little amount of sticky nasty smelling feces. Nevertheless, often it might be large accompanied with colicky pain in abdominal area and tenderness.
In small number of patients there is normal amoebic dysentery with loose movement blended with blood and mucus. There may be other associated constitutional symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, pain in legs etc.
In chronic amoebic colitis, patient is normally healthy with periodic bouts of diarrhea with blood and mucus spotted stools.
Treatment of Amoebic Colitis
In bulk of patients amoebic colitis remains in mild to moderate in origin. However, hepatic amoebiasis is a common complication if the disease is more virulent.
The parasite can hand down from the digestive tract wall into the blood stream and to the liver. As soon as in the liver it can cause amebic liver abscess. The abscess consists of pus and other dead liver cells.
It is defined by right upper abdominal pain, with inflammation in lower ribs when palpated. Poor basic health, tiredness and mild fever are usual with amoebic liver abscess.
The liver is bigger and periodic jaundice is other symptom of amoebic liver abscess. Queasiness may be present but vomiting is uncommon. The majority of patients with amebic liver abscess might have current or past history of amoebic dysentery.
In rare circumstances the abscess can burst and spread into the chest cavity.
Complications restricted to intestinal tract might be intestinal tract perforation, bloating of big intestinal tract, severe intestinal tract hemorrhage and stricture formation.
Treatment of amebiasis consists of pharmacologic therapy, surgical intervention, and preventive procedures, as suitable. Many people with amebiasis might be treated on an outpatient basis. Several scientific situations might favor inpatient care, as follows:
- severe colitis and hypovolemia needing intravenous (IV) volume replacement
- liver abscess that is of unpredictable etiology or is not reacting to empiric therapy
- fulminant colitis requiring surgical assessment
- peritonitis and thought amoebic liver abscess rupture.
Intestinal amebiasis might be wrongly treated as if it were inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Appropriately, in all patients with presumed IBD, lower intestinal (GI) endoscopy must be carried out prior to treatment with steroids is started.
The following assessments might be valuable:
Infectious disease professional
General surgeon
GI specialist
Follow-up stool examination after therapy completion is recommended to guarantee intestinal tract removal. No special diet is recommended.
Amoebic Colitis Diet
Aside from the medications diet plays an essential function during recovery from amebic colitis. Consumption of food that can be quickly absorbed is necessary. Besides, it needs to likewise offer adequate nutritious value and calories.
- Foods that are low in fiber are simple to absorb. They are best during when the patient is recuperating from the digestive disease. Here are a few of the foods that might be useful such as bananas, applesauce, white rice, yogurt, herbal tea etc. They can be consisted of in the beginning as they are soothing for the intestinal tract. After few days patient can include cereal bread, fine-tuned pasta, boiled potatoes, tomato soup, veggie and fruit juices, fish, eggs, tofu etc.
- Some foods are challenging to absorb when the intestinal walls are irritated. Avoid eating meat, beans, raw veggies, cauliflower, cabbage, spicy and oily food, a few of which might cause bloating and gases in the stomach.
- Drink fluids and water in adequate quantity. It helps to renew lost salts and body fluids in diarrhea.
- Eat small quantity of food frequently. Avoid eating big meals.
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