Amebiasis-CDCrep

Case classification:
• Suspected Case: A protozoan parasite infection that exists in 2 forms: the hardy infective cyst and the more fragile potentially pathogenic trophozoite. The parasite may act as a commensal or invade the tissues and give rise to intestinal or extra intestinal disease.
• Probable Case: Most infections are asymptomatic ,Intestinal disease varies from acute or fulminating dysentery with fever, chills and bloody or mucoid diarrhea (amoebic dysentery), to mild abdominal discomfort with diarrhea containing blood or mucus.
• Confirmed case: microscopic demonstration of trophozoites or cysts in fresh or suitably preserved fecal specimens.

3.15.2 Infectious agent

Entamoeba histolytica.

3.15.3 Occurrence

Amebiasis is mostly a disease of young adults; liver abscesses occur predominantly in males. Amebiasis is rare below age 5 and especially below age 2, when dysentery is due typically to shigellae. prevalence rates of cyst passage, usually based on cyst morphology, vary from place to place, with rates generally higher in areas with poor sanitation. In areas with good sanitation, amoebic infections tend to cluster in households and institutions.