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The diarrhea that you get from amebic dysentery may go away after a few weeks. But unless you get treatment, you'll still have amoebas in your body. This means you could still pass the infection on to other people. Also, the diarrhea could come back.

Without treatment, amoebas can continue to live in your bowels (intestines) for months or even years. In about 9 in 10 people, they don't cause any symptoms.^{1 2} But they may irritate the inside wall of your bowels and cause an open sore (an ulcer).^{2 3} This may bleed and lead to bloody diarrhea.

If you have diarrhea for more than few days, or you have blood or mucus in your stools, you should see a doctor.

• Your doctor can prescribe treatments that will help your symptoms and kill the amoebas in your body.
• It's important to tell your doctor if you've been traveling in another country, because amebic dysentery is rare in the United States.
• Your doctor will want to take a sample of your stools so they can be tested for amoebas. You may also have a blood test.
• Your doctor will also examine your abdomen. This is because, rarely, the infection can break through the wall of your bowels and affect other parts of your body, such as your liver.^{2 4} This can cause swelling in your abdomen. If your doctor thinks the amoebas have spread to your liver, you may need more tests, such as an ultrasound.^{2 5} An infection in your liver can be treated with antibiotics.⁵

Sometimes, the amoebas can cause a more serious condition called fulminant colitis. Fulminant colitis is rare, but it can be life-threatening. The symptoms include:

• Severe inflammation of your bowel
• Pain all over your abdomen
• Very bad diarrhea
• High fever.

It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible if you get any of these symptoms.

Treatments for amebic dysentery are very good. But even without treatment it's rare to die of it.^{2 4} This usually only happens in developing countries where good medical care isn't always available.⁶

Your doctor may give you advice on how to avoid passing on the infection to the people you live or work with. Make sure you wash your hands after going to the bathroom and before preparing food.⁴ If you work with food or you're a health care worker, you should stay off work until your doctor says it's safe for you to go back to work.

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.