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 | What is amoebic dysentery? |
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Amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis) is an infection of the intestine (gut) caused by an amoeba called Entamoeba histolytica, which, among other things, can cause severe diarrhoea.
Amoebae are parasites that are found in contaminated food or drink. They enter the body through the mouth when the contaminated food or drink is swallowed. The amoebae are then able to move through the digestive system and take up residence in the intestine and cause an infection.
There are several different species of amoebae, but the most dangerous, such as Entamoeba histolytica, live predominantly in tropical areas. These potentially life-threatening species are able to burrow through the intestinal wall and spread through the bloodstream to infect other organs, such as the liver, lungs and brain.
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| How do you get amoebic dysentery? |
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Entamoeba histolytica can exist in two forms in contaminated food and drink:
 as free amoebae (known as 'trophozoites')
as infective cysts, which are a group of amoebae surrounded by a protective wall, that have been passed (excreted) in the carrier's faeces (human or animal).
If you swallow contaminated food that contains the free amoebae (trophozoites) hardly anything is likely to happen, because they usually die in the stomach on account of its acidity. On the other hand, cysts are particularly resistant to the acidic contents of the stomach and food contaminated with cysts represents a genuine risk of infection. When the cysts reach the intestine of another person the individual amoebae are released from the cysts and are able to cause infection.
Amoebic dysentery is passed on by careless or negligent hygiene where contaminated food and drink is consumed without adequate heat treatment. Salads washed with contaminated water are a common method of spread.
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| What does amoebic dysentery feel like? |
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Amoebic dysentery may not demonstrate any symptoms for long periods of time (months, even years). However, infected individuals still excrete cysts and, consequently, infect their surroundings.
When the amoebae attack, they damage the walls of the large intestine, causing ulceration and subsequent bleeding. The milder symptoms of this are stomach cramps (colic), painful passage of stools (tenesmus) and bloody, slimy diarrhoea, which is often foul smelling. However, the course of the disease can become complicated and alter radically if the amoebae break through the intestinal wall and its lining (peritoneum), causing peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum)..
The amoebae may be transported via the blood to the liver and other organs and give rise to a high temperature and a seriously debilitated condition. In the long term, the amoebae can, among other things, form enormous cysts in the liver and other organs, which sometimes may only be discovered on investigation by a doctor for other conditions such as unexplained weight loss or illness.
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| Risk Factors |
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People who live in institutions and those who travel to developing countries with poor sanitary conditions are at a higher risk of getting the disease.
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