What are the symptoms of amoebiasis

The most common symptom of amoebiasis is abdominal discomfort and even diarrhea. In fact, these are caused by infection with amoebic bacteria and can be divided into different types. Therefore, we must pay attention to these symptoms and treat them symptomatically.

1. Asymptomatic carriers

Although patients are infected with Entamoeba histolytica, the amoeba only coexists with them, and more than 90% of people do not develop symptoms and become cyst carriers. Under appropriate conditions, it can invade tissues, cause lesions, and cause symptoms.

2. Acute atypical amebiasis

The onset is slow, with no obvious systemic symptoms. There may be abdominal discomfort, only loose stools, and sometimes diarrhea, several times a day, but there is a lack of typical dysentery-like stools. Trophozoites may be found in stool examination.

3. Acute typical amebiasis

The onset is often slow, starting with abdominal pain and diarrhea, and the frequency of bowel movements gradually increases, up to 10 to 15 times a day. There are varying degrees of abdominal pain and tenesmus during bowel movements, the latter indicating that the lesion has spread to the rectum. The stool contains blood and mucus, and is mostly dark red or purple, pasty, and has a fishy smell. In severe cases, the stool may be bloody, or the white mucus may be covered with a small amount of bright red blood. The patient's systemic symptoms are generally mild. In the early stages, the body temperature and white blood cell count may increase, and trophozoites can be detected in the feces.

4. Acute fulminant amoebiasis

The onset is acute, the whole body nutritional status is poor, the patient looks seriously ill, and the symptoms of poisoning are obvious, with high fever, chills, delirium, abdominal pain, and tenesmus. The stool is bloody and pus-filled, with a foul odor, and may also be watery or swill-like. The stool may occur more than 20 times a day, accompanied by vomiting, collapse, and varying degrees of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Blood test for neutrophilia. It is prone to complications such as intestinal bleeding or perforation. If not treated promptly, the patient may die from toxemia within 1 to 2 weeks.

5. Chronic persistent amoebiasis

It is usually a continuation of an acute infection, with diarrhea and constipation alternating. The course of the disease may last for months or even years without recovery. During the intervals, the patient may be as healthy as usual. Relapses are often triggered by improper diet, overeating, drinking, cold, fatigue, etc. Diarrhea occurs 3 to 5 times a day, and the stool is yellow and mushy, and trophozoites or cysts may be found. Patients often have dull pain around the umbilicus or lower abdomen, and varying degrees of anemia, weight loss, malnutrition, etc.