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Amebiasis - Treatment

Alternative Names

Amebic dysentery; Intestinal amebiasis

Treatment:

Oral antiparasitic medication is the standard treatment for amebiasis. The choice of drug depends on the severity of the infection. Typically oral metronidaloze is used for 10 days.

If you are vomiting, you may need treatment through a vein (intravenous) until you can tolerate medications by mouth. Antidiarrheal medications are usually not prescribed because they can make the condition worse.

After treatment, the stool should be rechecked to ensure that the infection has been cleared.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome is usually good with treatment.

Complications:

Liver abscess
Medication side effects, including nausea
Spread of the parasite through the blood to the liver, lungs, brain, or other organs

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have persistent diarrhea.

Amebic brain abscess

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 9/17/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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