What is Amoeba disease

 Amoeba disease, also known as amoebiasis, is a parasitic infection of the intestines caused by a microscopic organism called Entamoeba histolytica. This parasite can cause various symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, depending on the extent of the infection and the damage to the intestinal wall or other organs. In this essay, I will explain the types of Amoeba disease, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of amoeba disease.

Types of Amoeba

• Amebiasis: This is the most common type of amoeba disease, caused by Entamoeba histolytica, a parasitic amoeba that infects the intestines. It can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, blood or mucus in the stool, fever, and weight loss. In some cases, it can also spread to other organs such as the liver, lungs, brain, or skin and cause abscesses or infections.
• Naegleriasis: This is a rare and fatal type of amoeba disease, caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba that is found in warm freshwater and soil. It can cause a brain infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) when it enters the nose and reaches the brain through the olfactory nerve. It can cause symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and coma.
• Acanth amoebiasis: This is another type of amoeba disease, caused by Acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba that is found in water, soil, air, and dust. It can cause infections of the eye (keratitis), skin (cutaneous acanth amoebiasis), or brain (granulomatous amoebic encephalitis). It can cause symptoms such as eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, skin ulcers, rashes, nodules, headaches, seizures, and neurological problems.
• Balamuthiasis: This is a very rare type of amoeba disease, caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris, a free-living amoeba that is found in soil and dust. It can cause a brain infection called granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) when it enters the body through a skin wound or inhalation. It can cause symptoms such as headaches, seizures, neurological problems, skin lesions, and death

 

The main cause of amoeba disease is the ingestion of contaminated food or water that contains the cysts of Entamoeba histolytica. These cysts are the dormant form of the parasite that can survive in harsh environments for long periods of time. They are often found in areas with poor sanitation, hygiene, or water quality. People who travel to or live in such areas are at higher risk of getting infected. Other risk factors include having contact with fecal matter, such as during anal sex, oral-anal sex, or changing diapers of an infected person.

Once the cysts enter the body, they reach the small intestine and transform into trophozoites, which are the active form of the parasite that can multiply and invade the intestinal wall. Most people who are infected with Entamoeba histolytica do not show any symptoms and are called asymptomatic carriers. They can still pass on the infection to others through their faces. However, some people may develop symptoms of intestinal amoebiasis, which include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, blood or mucus in the stool, nausea, vomiting, and fever. These symptoms usually appear within two to four weeks after exposure to the parasite.

In some cases, the trophozoites may break through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to extraintestinal amoebiasis, which is a more serious and potentially life-threatening complication. The most common site of extraintestinal infection is the liver, where the parasite can form an abscess that causes pain and tenderness in the upper right abdomen. Other organs that can be affected include the lungs, brain, heart, skin, and genitals.

The diagnosis of amoeba disease is based on the clinical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. The most common test is the microscopic examination of a stool sample to look for the presence of cysts or trophozoites. However, this test may not be very sensitive or specific, as other parasites or bacteria can cause similar symptoms or interfere with the detection of Entamoeba histolytica. Therefore, other tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis, such as antigen tests, antibody tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, or imaging tests.

The amoebiasis treatment depends on the type and severity of the infection. For asymptomatic carriers or mild cases of intestinal amoebiasis, drugs such as diloxanide furoate or paromomycin may be prescribed to eliminate the cysts from the body and prevent further transmission. For moderate to severe cases of intestinal amoebiasis or extraintestinal amoebiasis, drugs such as metronidazole or tinidazole may be prescribed to kill the trophozoites and treat the symptoms. These drugs may have side effects such as nausea, metallic taste in the mouth, or disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol. In some cases, surgery may be required to drain an abscess or repair a perforation in the intestine.

The prevention of amoeba infection involves improving sanitation, hygiene, and water quality in endemic areas. Some preventive measures include boiling or filtering drinking water; washing hands with soap and water before eating or after using the toilet; avoiding raw fruits and vegetables that may be contaminated; peeling or cooking fruits and vegetables before eating; avoiding contact with fecal matter and taking prophylactic drugs before traveling to high-risk areas.

In conclusion, parasitic amoeba of the intestines caused by Entamoeba histolytica that can cause various symptoms depending on the extent of the infection and the damage to the intestinal wall or other organs. It is mainly transmitted through contaminated food or water or contact with fecal matter. It can be diagnosed by microscopic examination of stool samples or other tests. It can be treated by drugs that kill the parasite or surgery that drains an abscess or repairs a perforation. It can be prevented by improving sanitation, hygiene, and water quality in endemic areas.

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