Amebic dysentery; Intestinal amebiasis

Treatment depends on the severity of infection. Usually, metronidaloze is given by mouth for 10 days.

If you are vomiting, you may need to receive medications through a vein (intravenously) until you can tolerate them by mouth. Antidiarrheal medications are usually not prescribed because they can make the condition worse.

After treatment, the stool should be rechecked to make sure that the infection has been cleared.

The outcome is usually good with treatment. Usually, the illness lasts about 2 weeks, but it can come back if treatment is not given.

• Liver abscess
• Medication side effects, including nausea
• Spread of the parasite through the blood to the liver, lungs, brain, or other organs

Call your health care provider if you have persistent diarrhea.

Images

Digestive system organs

Amebic brain abscess

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Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)