diarrhea in amebiasis

Q: Bloody diarrhea in amebiasis is accompanied? (select one) 

 A) with fecal leukocytes 
 B) without fecal leukocytes


Answer: B

Few of the hallmarks of intestinal amebiasis are bloody diarrhea, usually present for an extended period of time and absence of fecal leukocytes. Intestinal amebiasis destroys leukocytes. These features in high-risk populations are highly suggestive of the said disease. High-risk populations for intestinal amebiasis are endemic geographic areas like Sout-East Asia, Africa, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America, institutionalized persons and men who have sex with men.

#infectious-diseases
#gastroenterology


References:

1. Tanyuksel M, Petri WA Jr. Laboratory diagnosis of amebiasis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2003;16(4):713–729.

2. Hung CC, Ji DD, Sun HY, et al. Increased risk for Entamoeba histolytica infection and invasive amebiasis in HIV seropositive men who have sex with men in Taiwan. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2008;2(2):e175.

3. Choudhuri G, Rangan M. Amebic infection in humans. Indian J Gastroenterol. 2012 Jul;31(4):153–62.