Amoebiasis is a infectious disease caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Amoebiasis is a parasitic infection of the large intestine. It is a difficult infection to treat with allopathic drugs, and repeated courses of specific medication are needed. Amoebiasis can affect anyone, however, the disease mostly occurs in young to middle aged adults.
Amoebiasis, sometimes spelt amebiasis, is one of those common diseases, caused by a parasite which infects the bowel casing a type of gastroenteritis infection.
This disease generally occurs in young to middle aged adults, but can affect anyone because people can be receptive to infection by ingesting contaminated food or water containing the Entamoeba histolytica microorganism, although Amoebiasis is mostly associated with people living in areas of poor sanitation and it is a common cause of diarrhea among people living or traveling to developing countries, specially those located in tropical or subtropical areas, but also coming from domestic suburbs with non hygienic conditions. Approximately 500 cases are reported each year in New York State and most of those cases occur among New York City residents.
As Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Entamoeba histolytica, to trace the cause of the disease it is necessary to know what you ate and drank in the previous weeks, and/or where you traveled before you became ill. Entamoeba histolytica parasites are only found in humans.
After infection, it may take from a few days up to two to four weeks before becoming ill. Some people with amebiasis may carry the parasite for weeks to years, often without symptoms. Amoebiasis can progress to amoebic dysentery in the wide, lower part of the intestine and then spread to cause severe damage to the intestine. Although rarely, amoebiasis can cause abscesses in the liver, lungs, and brain or even elsewhere in the body.
Causes and symptoms of amoebiasis
Amoebiasis is characterised by non specific diarrhoea with loose, semi formed, foul smelling stools, or dysentery with mucous, traces of blood and small quantities of stools passed repeatedly. Often there is an ineffectual urge to defecate again and again, with very little stool actually being passed. There is much flatulence with abdominal cramps. In severe cases, the liver and other organs may get affected, causing specific conditions related to organ, e.g., hepatitis, cysts, abscess, etc. The most common symptoms of amoebiasis are diarrhoea (which may contain blood), stomach cramps and fever.
How the Amoebiasis spread
Amoebiasis occurs when Entamoeba histolytica parasites are taken in by mouth and the most common way this happens is by person-to-person spread. Amoebiasis can also be spread by:
Eating contaminated raw vegetables and fruit
Unprotected oral-anal sexual contact
Drinking contaminated water
How amoebiasis can be prevented ?
Everyone should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and hot running water for at least ten seconds before preparing food and eating
Wash your hands after smoking and going to the toilet
Foods which are best to avoid are uncooked foods, particularly vegetables and fruit, which cannot be peeled before eating
on sources of amoebiasis. Wash your hands before preparing food, before eating, after going to the toilet or changing diapers, after smoking or after using a tissue or handkerchief
People must carefully select and prepare any food and drink as an effective preventive measure against amoebiasis. Uncooked foods must be avoided, particularly vegetables and fruit, which cannot be peeled before eating. Unpacked drinks and ice should also be avoided. Food handlers should always use disposable paper towels or an air dryer to dry their hands. Generally, cloth towels are not recommended as they can spread germs from one person to another
Finally, remember that safe food storage and handling reduce also the risk of amoebiasis infections by following simple guidelines
Thoroughly cook all raw foods
Thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits before eating
Reheat food until the internal temperature of the food reaches at least 167º Fahrenheit
Homeopathy and amoebiasis
homeopathy not only helps in treating the acute infection but also helps in preventing it becoming chronic.
Doctors at AUROH have been successfully treating patients suffering with ACUTE AND CHRONIC AMOEBIASIS for the last several years. This is done with the unique combinations of homeopathic medicines which our team of physicians has developed with their past 15 years of experience treating patients.