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Common Illness

Amebiasis
Anthrax
Arboviral Infections
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IRITIS
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SUNBURN
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SHOCK
PLEURISY
ORAL CANCER
HEAT STROKE
EYE TUMOR
RUPTURED EARDRUM
ANXIETY
DEHYDRATION

Amebiasis (amebic dysentery)

What is amebiasis? Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Entamoeba histolytica.

Who gets amebiasis? Anyone can get amebiasis, but it is recognized more often in people arriving from tropical or subtropical areas, individuals in institutions for the developmentally disabled and homosexual males.

How is this parasite spread?

Amebiasis is contracted by swallowing the cyst stage of the parasite in contaminated food or water. It can also be spread by person-to-person contact.

What are the symptoms of amebiasis?

None
Nausea
Loose Stools
Weight Loss
Abdominal Tenderness
Occasional Fever
Liver Abscess

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear? The symptoms may appear from a few days to a few months after exposure but usually within two to four weeks.

For how long can an infected person carry this parasite? Some people with amebiasis may carry the parasite for weeks to years, often without symptoms.

Where are the parasites that cause amebiasis found? Infected people are the only sources of the parasite. Fecal material from infected people may contaminate water or food which may serve as a vehicle to infect others.

How is it diagnosed? Examination of stools under a microscope is the most common way for a doctor to diagnose amebiasis. Sometimes, several stool samples must be obtained because the number of amoeba changes from day to day.

What is the treatment for amebiasis? Specific antibiotics such as metronidazole can be prescribed by a doctor to treat amebiasis.

Should an infected person be excluded from work or school? Generally, it is not necessary to exclude an infected person from work or school. Casual contact at work or school is unlikely to transmit the disease. Special precautions may be needed by foodhandlers or children enrolled in day care settings. Consult your local health department for advice in such instances.

What precautions should the infected person follow? The most important precautions are careful handwashing after each toilet visit and proper disposal of sewage. Homosexual males should refrain from intimate contact until effectively treated.

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