Infantile Amoebiasis: A Case Report

Amoebiasis continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. Entamoeba histolytica infections are commonly observed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world including Iran. In developed countries Entamoeba histolytica infections are commonly seen i...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mohammad Zibaei, Farzaneh Firoozeh, Alireza Azargoon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/614398
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Amoebiasis continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. Entamoeba histolytica infections are commonly observed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world including Iran. In developed countries Entamoeba histolytica infections are commonly seen in travelers, recent immigrants, homosexual men, and inmates of institutions. The disease is more severe in the two extremes of life. This paper paper describes a four-month-old male infant with Entamoeba histolytica presenting initially with refusal of feeds, hyperactive bowel sound, vomiting, and diarrhea. A fecal sample was positive for Entamoeba histolytica by Lugol's iodine solution and the concentration technique. He was successfully treated with metronidazole for 5 days. This case illustrates that Entamoeba species could be pathogenic in young infant; therefore, awareness of the infection, aggressive approach to diagnosis, and early initiation of treatment continue to be critical component of infection control.
ISSN:2090-6625
2090-6633