What Is Amoebiasis?

Amoebiasis is a parasitic disease found world-wide, but more commonly in tropical countries. The infection is spread by food or water which has been contaminated by flies carrying the germ from human faeces. Travellers to the tropics, especially areas where amoebic dysentery is common, should avoid water, unless they know it has been purified, and fruit and vegetables from sources where contaminated water may have been used to wash them. Iodine-releasing tablets added to the water will kill the amoebae, but they cannot be destroyed simply by boiling water or adding chlorine to it.

Symptoms:

• Diarrhoea. This may be profuse with blood and mucus (amoebic dysentery), or less severe and intermittent.

• Abdominal cramps.

• If the infection spreads to the liver it will produce an abscess which can be felt by the doctor, and the patient will suffer fever, sweats and loss of mass.

• Sometimes there are no symptoms, but the patient is carrying the disease and will excrete germs in his faeces.