7.1
Amoebiasis
Malawi Standard Treatment Guidelines, 6th Edition, 2023. Chapter 7, Gastrointestinal Conditions.
Clinical Description
An infection caused by protozoan Entamoeba histolytica transmitted through food and drink contaminated with human faeces.
- Clinical manifestations
- Intestinal: amoebic dysentery
- Hepatic: amoebic liver abscess
Signs and Symptoms
- Diarrhoea (dysentery) +/- fever
- Abdominal pain
- Right upper quadrant abdominal pain and jaundice in amoebic liver abscess
Investigations
- Full blood count
- Fresh wet stool analysis
- Liver function test
- Abdominal Ultrasound (if amoebic liver abscess suspected)
Non-pharmacological
- Health education on fecal disposal, hand washing and food hygiene.
Pharmacological
Intestinal Amoebiasis
Adults
- Metronidazole 800mg 8 hourly for 5 days’ preferably after food.
Children
- Metronidazole 7.5 mg/kg 8 hourly for 5 days
Check doses against the printed guideline and your clinical judgement before treating a patient. Spotted an error? Report it from the contact links below.
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