Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyReferences

View all Images (6)

Amebic colitis in Child
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Amebic colitis in Child

Contributors: Neil Mendoza MD, Paritosh Prasad MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

A cause of dysentery due to the parasite Entamoeba histolytica.

The protozoal cyst is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, usually after ingesting contaminated water or food. Following excystation, the organism invades the colon.

The highest risk of infection is in settings with poor sanitation levels and low socio-economic conditions. In the developed setting, men who have sex with men are at increased risk for amebiasis. Patients taking corticosteroids, pregnant patients, malnourished patients, or patients who are very young or old are at risk for severe disease.

The majority of infections are asymptomatic, with the likelihood of invasive disease depending on the strain of histolytica involved and the host characteristics. Patients with invasive disease present with dysentery and may appear systemically ill at presentation. They have loose bloody (either grossly or microscopically) stools with mucus. Abdominal cramps are common, and abdominal pain may be very severe. Fever may be present, but it is not seen in all patients. For most patients, these symptoms develop and worsen over about 3-4 weeks before they present for medical care. Some patients may present with more acute symptoms that may be difficult to differentiate from bacterial dysentery. For other patients, the symptoms may worsen over the course of months.

Complications of amebic colitis include intussusception, perforation, and peritonitis. Rarely, toxic megacolon may occur.

The condition is not typically life-threatening unless the patient is presenting with a rare complication of the disease like necrotizing colitis.

Related topic: Cutaneous amebiasis

Codes

ICD10CM:
A06.2 – Amebic nondysenteric colitis

SNOMEDCT:
235747003 – Amebic Colitis

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

Subscription Required

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Updated:04/15/2018
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Amebic colitis in Child
A medical illustration showing key findings of Amebic colitis (Colitis) : Abdominal pain, Bloody diarrhea, Fever, Abdominal cramp, Contaminated food exposure, Contaminated drinking water exposure, Heme+ stool
Imaging Studies image of Amebic colitis - imageId=1926452. Click to open in gallery.
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.