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Amebic dysentery is rare in the United States. But it's quite common around the world, especially in developing and tropical countries. People from the United States are most likely to get it if they've been traveling in these countries.

Amoebas are tiny parasites. This means they can live inside your body. There are different types of amoeba, and they don't always make you sick. This makes it hard to say exactly how many people are infected with the type that causes dysentery.

Infection with amoebas is more common in Central and South America, Africa and Asia.^{1 2 3} Up to 40 percent of people in these areas may be infected. Most of these people won't become sick, but they can pass on the infection to other people.

In the United States and other developed countries, less than 1 percent of people have amoebas in their body.⁴ People in these countries are most likely to get amebic dysentery when they're traveling in the developing parts of the world.⁴

Amebic dysentery is also more common in crowded conditions or places where lots of people live together, for example at a military base.^{4 5 6}

Around the world, between 40,000 and 100,000 people die of amebic dysentery each year.⁷ But it's rare to die of amebic dysentery in the United States and other developed countries, where you have ready access to good health care.

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. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.