What is the treatment of Gastrointestinal Amebiasis?

Gasterointestinal Amebiasis is an infection of the large intestine caused by parasites called amoebas (scientific name: Entamoeba histolytica). The treatment of this infection depends on its severity and usually includes metronidazole that is given orally for 10 days.

•    Luminal drugs are prescribed to kill the parasites and cysts living in the large intestine. The three luminal drugs are iodoquinol (Diquinol and others), paromomycin (Humatin) and diloxanide furoate (Furamide). Combination of one of these drugs and metronidazole (Flagyl) may be used to treat the gastrointestinal symptoms. People who have asymptomatic amebasis, but pass them through stools can be treated with luminal drugs alone.

•    Nitroimidazole drugs are used to kill amoebas in the bloodstream, the intestinal wall and in case of liver abscess. Nitroimidazole drugs include metronidazole (Flagyl) and tinidazole (Tindamax, Fasigyn). Your doctor will prescribe metronidazole for ten days and can be given orally or intravenously.

After treatment, the stool sample will be checked to make sure that the infection has been cleared.

Prognosis

Drug treatments are an effective remedy for gastrointestinal amebiasis and can cure the infection within a few weeks. Despite of taking treatment, you may get infected again if you do not take precautions to fight against amebiasis. This intestinal infection can prove fatal for kids under the age of five. Taking precautions against amebiasis is very important as it is the third most common cause of death from parasitic infections.


Amoebic dysentery can cause problems for several weeks until you are not treated thoroughly. Unless your treatment isn’t complete, chances are you may experience another attack.

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