Amebic dysentery - Preventing amebic dysentery

Amebic dysentery

Preventing amebic dysentery

You usually catch amebic dysentery after eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. It's more common in countries where people don't have clean water or the facilities to keep kitchens and bathrooms as clean as we're used to.

Source:
Davis AN, Haque R, Petri WA.
Update on protozoan parasites of the intestine.
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. 2002; 18: 10-14.

Source:
Lucas R, Upcroft JA.
Clinical significance of the redefinition of the agent of amoebiasis.
Revista Latinoamericana de Microbiologia. 2001; 43: 183-187.

If you're traveling in a developing country, there are things you can do to make it less likely that you'll catch amebic dysentery:

Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Amebiasis fact sheet.
Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/amebiasis (accessed on 28 November 2008).

Don't drink tap water or drinks served with ice in them. Ice is usually made from tap water. Instead, drink bottled water (with an unbroken seal), carbonated beverages, or hot coffee or tea. You can make water safe to drink by boiling it for a few minutes. You can also use water-purifying tablets and a filter to make water safe to drink. You can buy these from camping stores. Don't use the tap water even to brush your teeth unless you're sure it's safe.
Avoid drinking unpasteurized milk or eating dairy products made from unpasteurized milk .
Avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables unless you can peel them yourself.
Don't eat cooked food that isn't piping hot when it's served.
Don't eat food from street vendors.
Wash your hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.

If you become sick with

diarrhea
Diarrhea is when you have loose, watery stools and you need to go to the bathroom far more often than usual. Doctors say you have diarrhea if you need to go to the bathroom more than three times a day.

diarrhea after you've been traveling, it's important to tell your doctor about your trip. It will affect the kind of treatment you need.

Source:
Stanley SL.
Amoebiasis.
Lancet. 2003; 361: 1025-1034.

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Your doctor can advise you about making sure you don't pass on the infection to other people. If you work with food or you're a health care worker, you may need to stay off work until your symptoms have gone away.

Source:
Health Protection Agency.
Diseases notifiable (to Local Authority Proper Officers) under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988.
Available at http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/noids/noidlist.htm (accessed on 28 November 2008).

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Sources for the information on this page:

Davis AN, Haque R, Petri WA.Update on protozoan parasites of the intestine.Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. 2002; 18: 10-14.

Lucas R, Upcroft JA.Clinical significance of the redefinition of the agent of amoebiasis.Revista Latinoamericana de Microbiologia. 2001; 43: 183-187.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Amebiasis fact sheet.Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/amebiasis (accessed on 28 November 2008).

Stanley SL.Amoebiasis.Lancet. 2003; 361: 1025-1034.

Health Protection Agency.Diseases notifiable (to Local Authority Proper Officers) under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988.Available at http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/noids/noidlist.htm (accessed on 28 November 2008).

This information was last updated on Dec 04, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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