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entamoeba histolytica infection :: Article Creator

What Is Amebiasis?

What is amebiasis?

Amebiasis is a disease caused by a one-celled parasite called Entamoeba histolytica (ent-a-ME-ba his-to-LI-ti-ka).

Who is at risk for amebiasis?

Although anyone can have this disease, it is most common in people who live in developing countries that have poor sanitary conditions. In the United States, amebiasis is most often foundin immigrants from developing countries. It also is found in people who have traveled to developing countries and in people who live in institutions that have poor sanitary conditions. Men who have sex with men can become infected and can get sick from the infection, but they often do not have symptoms.

How can I become infected with E. Histolytica?

By putting anything into your mouth that has touched the stool of a person who is infected with E. Histolytica.

By swallowing something, such as water or food, that is contaminated with E. Histolytica.

By touching and bringing to your mouth cysts (eggs) picked up from surfaces that are contaminated with E. Histolytica.

What are the symptoms of amebiasis

On average, about one in 10 people who are infected with E. Histolytica becomes sick from the infection. The symptoms often are quite mild and can include loose stools, stomach pain, and stomach cramping. Amebic dysentery is a severe form of amebiasis associated with stomach pain, bloody stools, and fever. Rarely, E. Histolytica invades the liver and forms an abscess. Even less commonly, it spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or brain.

If I swallowed E. Histolytica, how quickly would I become sick?

Usually 1 to 4 weeks later but sometimes more quickly or more slowly.

What should I do if I think I have amebiasis?

See your health care provider.

How is amebiasis diagnosed?

Your health care provider will ask you to submit stool samples. Because E. Histolytica is not always found in every stool sample, you may be asked to submit several stool samples from several different days.

Diagnosis of amebiasis can be very difficult. One problem is that other parasites and cells can look very similar to E. Histolytica when seen under a microscope. Therefore, sometimes peopleare told that they are infected with E. Histolytica even though they are not. Entamoeba histolytica and another amoeba, Entamoeba dispar, which is about 10 times more common, look the same when seen under a microscope. Unlike infection with E. Histolytica, which sometimes makes people sick, infection with E. Dispar never makes people sick and therefore does not needto be treated.

Continued

If you have been told that you are infected with E. Histolytica but you are feeling fine, you might be infected with E. Dispar instead. Unfortunately, most laboratories do not yet have the tests that can tell whether a person is infected with E. Histolytica or with E. Dispar. Until these tests become more widely available, it usually is best to assume that the parasite is E. Histolytica.

A blood test is also available. However, the test is recommended only when your health care provider thinks that your infection has invaded the wall of the intestine (gut) or some other organ of your body, such as the liver. One problem is that the blood test may still be positive if you had amebiasis in the past, even if you are no longer infected now.

How is amebiasis treated?

Several antibiotics are available to treat amebiasis. Treatment must be prescribed by a physician. You will be treated with only one antibiotic if your E. Histolytica infection has not made you sick. You probably will be treated with two antibiotics (first one and then the other) if your infection has made you sick.

I am going to travel to a country that has poor sanitary conditions. What should I eat and drink there so I will NOT become infected with E. Histolytica or other such germs?

Drink only bottled or boiled (for 1 minute) water or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Do not drink fountain drinks or any drinks with ice cubes. Another way to make water safe is by filtering it through an "absolute 1 micron or less" filter and dissolving iodine tablets in the filtered water. "Absolute 1 micron" filters can be found in camping/outdoor supply stores.

Do not eat fresh fruit or vegetables that you did not peel yourself.

Do not eat or drink milk, cheese, or dairy products that may not have been pasteurized.

Do not eat or drink anything sold by street vendors.

Should I be concerned about spreading infection to the rest of my household?

Yes. However, the risk of spreading infection is low if the infected person is treated with antibiotics and practices good personal hygiene. This includes thorough hand washing with soap and water after using the toilet, after changing diapers, and before handling food.

WebMD Public Information from the CDC

Sources

Source: CDC: "Amebiasis.""Amebiasis."

Yeast Infection: Signs & Symptoms

A yeast infection can feel like itching or even burning. Or you may have swelling so extreme, it leads to sores. Sexual intercourse may be painful. Whether your symptoms are mild or severe, a yeast infection can be uncomfortable.

Yeast infections are caused by a fungus. It generally causes your vagina and vulva (the tissues at the opening of the vagina) or your penis to itch. You may also have a discharge.

Knowing how to spot the symptoms of a yeast infection can help you get the most effective treatment.

A yeast infection is a condition caused by a fungus that can lead to itchiness of your vagina and vulva (the tissues at the opening of the vagina) or penis. It can also cause a discharge. Yeast infections are a common type of vaginitis or vaginal infection. Knowing how to spot the signs and symptoms can help you get the most effective treatment. (Photo credit: KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images)

Your vulva and vaginal opening or your penis may look red, swollen, and irritated. There may be a white coating or shiny sores on your vaginal or penile tissue. Your discharge may be different than normal. Your symptoms will vary depending on how severe your infection is.

Yeast infection discharge

It may be watery or thicker and look like cottage cheese. It's usually whitish to yellowish in color. A vaginal yeast infection shouldn't smell different than normal. Symptoms can vary from person to person.

Your symptoms depend on where the infection is and how your body responds. Your symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe. Or you may have no noticeable symptoms.

Vaginal yeast infection symptoms

Yeast infections are a common type of vaginitis or vaginal infection. Three of every four women and people with a vagina get one in their lifetime. And many have more than one.

Also known as vaginal candidiasis, if you have a vaginal yeast infection, you'll most likely have extreme itching in and around your vagina; this is the most common symptom. In addition to itching, you might also have:

A burning feeling, especially when you pee or during sex

Swelling and redness around your vulva

Pain and soreness in your vagina

A vaginal rash

In severe cases, fragile skin that causes small cracks or cuts on the vulva

Odorless, watery or thick, white to yellow vaginal discharge

Penile yeast infection symptoms

A penile yeast infection is also called candida balanitis. This can happen when there's an overgrowth of fungus on the penis or if you have sex with a partner who has a vaginal yeast infection.

About 3%-11% of men and people assigned male at birth will get a yeast infection in their lifetime. It tends to happen on moist, warm, creased areas of skin such as the head of the penis and foreskin.

It's more common if you aren't circumcised and for children under age 4. About 1 in 30 uncircumcised people will develop a yeast infection. It's also more common if you have phimosis, which means the foreskin doesn't easily pull back over the penis.

The symptoms include:

Itching and burning at the head of your penis or under the foreskin

Redness on the penis, usually in patches

A thick, white substance in the skin folds of the penis, and moistness

Shiny, white areas on the penis

Shiny blisters or sores on the penis

Foul-smelling discharge

Trouble pulling back the foreskin

Flaky, crusty, or peeling skin after the infection

Sometimes the symptoms of a yeast infection can be more serious and require extra care. Or you may get repeated infections. You might need a longer course of treatment or a prevention plan with your doctor to keep the infection from coming back. Severe yeast infections are also called complicated yeast infections.

You can get a more complicated infection if:

You're pregnant

You have uncontrolled diabetes

Your immune system is weakened by medications you're taking or a health condition like HIV

You douche, which can kill bacteria that help to control the growth of fungus

Your infection might also be more complicated if it's caused by a different type of fungus than what commonly causes yeast infections. This can mean the usual over-the-counter treatments are not as effective.

Signs of a complicated infection include:

Symptoms (such as redness, swelling, and itching) so severe that it causes tears or sores

A recurrence of yeast infection four or more times in a year

Vaginal yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are different types of vaginitis. BV is caused by bacteria rather than a fungus. Both infections can cause itching and a burning feeling when you pee. However, other symptoms are not the same.

You may have BV rather than a yeast infection if your vagina has a bad smell or if you have a thin, white, green, or gray discharge.

See your doctor if you think you may have BV or if you're not sure what infection you have.

Both infections may cause discomfort and a burning sensation when you pee. But while a yeast infection causes symptoms like vaginal itching and a thick or watery odorless discharge, a urinary tract infection (UTI) does not. If you have a UTI, you may have these symptoms instead:

A strong urge to pee

Cloudy or bloody pee

Strong-smelling pee

Frequent peeing

Pelvic pain, if you have a vagina

Call your doctor if your symptoms don't improve within 72 hours of starting treatment. Call right away if you have any signs of a complicated infection.

You should also make an appointment with your doctor if:

You've never had a yeast infection before.

Your symptoms don't get better or return after treatment with an over-the-counter cream or suppository.

You have new or unusual pain or discharge in your genital area.

You get other symptoms.

You have pain during sex.

If you think you have a yeast infection but aren't sure, it's important to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis. Your doctor can also let you know if something else may be causing your problems.

Treatment can help relieve your symptoms, keep an infection from becoming severe, and prevent you from spreading any potential infections during sex.

If you have itching around your vagina or penis and a thick, white, chunky, or watery discharge, there's a chance you have a yeast infection. Call your doctor if you're not sure. Over-the-counter treatments often provide relief in a few days.

The Little-known STI That Has Seen A 24% Rise In Cases

The sexually transmitted disease shigella has seen a rise in cases (Picture: Getty Images)

We've all heard of the usual host of STIs: chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhoea, herpes… the list goes on.

But we'll take a guess and say you haven't heard of this lesser-known STI, which has seen a 24% rise in cases over the past four years.

While the exact number of diagnoses are still much lower than the most common sexually transmitted diseases, doctors are concerned about the year-on-year increase of infections.

The STI in question? Shigella (which is more commonly referred to as dysentery).

Dr Bhavini Shah, GP from LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, explains what shigella is.

Engaging in any type of anal sex could result in you contracting shigella (Picture: Getty Images) What is shigella and what are the symptoms?

'It's a highly infectious bacteria which commonly causes diarrhoea and vomiting, as well as abdominal pain and fever,' he says.

'Shigella is caused by bacteria found in faeces. Only a tiny amount needs to get into your mouth to pass it on – for example, from your fingers. It's often caused by contaminated food, but it can also be passed on sexually.

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'Sex that may involve contact with faeces is a risk. This includes anal sex, fisting, handling a condom or sex toy used for anal sex, oral sex after anal sex, touching someone's backside or rimming.'

How infectious is it?

If someone has shigella, Dr Shah says they can be infectious for up to a month, and what is more concerning is the rise in 'antibiotic resistant strains' of the disease.

'There has been a 53% increase in antibiotic resistant shigella from January to November 2023, with 97 cases being reported, compared to just 9 cases for the whole of 2022,' Dr Shah explains.

When you think of dysentery, if that's something you do, you may think of it as a disease people catch in ancient times or in poorer countries where access to proper sanitation was or is limited.

Dr Shah says: 'In the past, dysentery was most commonly caught by people drinking untreated water that had been contaminated with sewage.

There are two types of dysentery:

The first type of dysentery is bacillary dysentery or shigellosis, which is caused by shigella bacteria; this is the most common type of dysentery in the UK.

The second type of dysentery is amoebic dysentery or amoebiasis, which is caused by an amoeba (single celled parasite) called Entamoeba histolytica, which is mainly found in tropical areas; this type of dysentery is usually picked up abroad.

Source: NHS

'While this is no longer the case in the UK, it is still a common source of the disease in countries with poor access to sanitary drinking water. Shigella can also be common among young children.'

Is there a treatment for shigella?

Now you know that it is possible to contract shigella from sexual activity, you may be wondering how you can get tested if you're experiencing symptoms.

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