Amoebic dysentery - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Amoebic dysentery

Description of Amoebic dysentery

Amoebic dysentery is an inflammation of the intestine, especially the colon, caused by bacteria (bacillary dysentery) or protozoa (amoebic dysentery).

Symptoms of Amoebic dysentery

Symptoms may appear within a week of infection, or may take years to appear. The onset is very gradual, with weight loss, anaemia and indigestion and eventually, passing of bloody stools.

Treatment of Amoebic dysentery

Treatment with nitroimidazole drugs, followed by diloxamide furoate.

Causes of Amoebic dysentery

Amoebic dysentery is caused by infection by protozoa. It can be avoided by protected food from flies, avoiding contaminated water and taking care to see that sanitation is good. Known carriers of either disease should not be allowed to handle food.

Complications in dysentery occur only in severe cases, when the intestine may perforate and bleed and there is a risk of abscesses forming in the liver, brain, bone or testes.