How
Do You Know If You Have Amebiasis,
Or The Entamoeba Histolytica Parasite?
Amebiasis is a
parasitic illness that begins in the intestine. Amebiasis is caused
by a microscopic, one-celled parasite called Entamoeba histolytica.
Anyone can be exposed to Entamoeba histolytica and come down with
amebiasis, but it is most often seen in developing areas of Latin
America, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.
Amebiasis has become
more common in the United States through immigrants from developing
countries and by people who have visited developing countries. Poor
sanitation, crowded conditions, and institutional settings also
can increase the spread of amebiasis in the United States. In rare
cases, Entamoeba histolytica can be spread through sexual contact.
Entamoeba histolytica
is transmitted by the stool of an infected person. People become
infected by Entamoeba histolytica when they put anything into their
mouths that contains the Entamoeba histolytica parasite. This contamination
may occur through water, food, or surfaces, often because of inadequate
hand-washing. It’s estimated that 10 percent of the people
who come into contact with Entamoeba histolytica become sick with
amebiasis. The symptoms of amebiasis can range from mild to severe,
including:
Stomach pain
Stomach cramping
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Loose stools
Amebic dysentery
Fever
In unusual cases,
amebiasis may spread to the liver (forming an abscess), lungs, and
brain. Once you come into contact with Entamoeba histolytica, the
symptoms usually appear within one to four weeks.
Both in the United
States and abroad, there are a few ways you can avoid becoming infected
with intestinal parasites like Entamoeba histolytica, such as:
Outside of the United States,
drink only bottled water or water that has been boiled for at
least one minute
Avoid fountain drinks and
drinks with ice cubes
Avoid fresh fruit and vegetables
that you did not peel yourself
Be careful eating or drinking
anything sold by street vendors
Practice good personal hygiene
Wash your hands frequently
with soap and water, especially before handling food
When eating and
drinking in high-risk countries, there’s a helpful rule of
thumb advising to “cook it, boil it, peel it, or forget it.”
If you are concerned with being exposed to intestinal parasites,
another good piece of advice is to try a natural
parasite cleanse which is effective against many different intestinal
parasites.
