Amebiasis

I noticed this medical term was a top search word today, which surprises me no end. I remember reading about it in zoology class in college. For those interested who don't know:

Amebiasis is a disease caused by microscopic parasites such as Entamoeba histolytica that attach to the large intestine. Most of the time these parasites (amoebas) cause no symptoms, but in up to 8% of those infected, the amoebas invade deeply into wall of the intestine. When this happens, symptoms begin, either because the amebic parasites attack the intestines (intestinal amebiasis) or more rarely, spread through the body to affect other organs, especially the liver.

A child with intestinal amebiasis may complain of abdominal pain that begins gradually. There may also be diarrhea that is blood-stained or filled with mucus. The child may have eight to 12 bowel movements each day, and he may experience a constant nagging, irritating feeling that he needs to move his bowels. There is fever about one third of the time.

In rare cases, amebiasis causes an amebic dysentery, with sudden symptoms of fever, chills, and severe diarrhea. This can lead to dehydration (abnormally low levels of body water). Symptoms can last from a few days to several weeks.

When amoebas spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, they can cause pockets of infection and pus in many different organs. About 1% of the time, they infect the liver, and the condition is called hepatic amebiasis. Symptoms of hepatic amebiasis include: fever; pain in the abdomen; an abnormally swollen or enlarged abdomen; and tenderness in the area of the liver (below the right ribs).