Other Sites of Amebiasis

Genital amebiasis. Invasion of the genitalia is very rare and occurs mostly in women, with isolated reports in men. Amebic abscesses involving the genitourinary tract (including the Fallopian tubes, vagina and cervix) occur, but are not radiologically distinguishable from those caused by other organisms.

Vascular Involvement. Thrombosis, particularly of the mesenteric or portal vessels, may occur during acute amebiasis, as with any other infection. Usually it is a complication of the disease, but amebae have been recovered in large numbers from thrombi within the inferior vena cava. They become an important source of thromboemboli, giving rise to pulmonary or rare cerebral abscesses.

COMMENTARY

Amebiasis remains an imposing public health challenge that affects millions of people with limited economic resources living in overpopulated developing countries. Despite the significant progress attained during the last few decades, including a diminishing mortality due to better understanding of the disease, availability of effective specific antiamebic medications, and generally improved patient care, it still remains a costly worldwide problem. The responsibility to eradicate this parasitic disease lies directly with the public health departments and political leaders of those countries who are charged with funding and building the necessary sewer infrastructures and modern water treatment plants to prevent further fecal contamination. Rural populations must be educated on the importance of avoiding contamination of water sources and how to protect and improve the quality of their drinking water. The following methods for water treatment are generally available and include simply teaching the "point-of use disinfection technique", either by traditional water boiling or by offering the new and relatively inexpensive household technology kit that includes a translucent high-density polyethylene plastic container with a wide single opening. Use of a nonrustable spigot and 5% calcium hypochlorite disinfectant solution is another method recommended by the World Health Organization with a modest cost of a few cents per year.