Amoebiasis
Parasites are micro or macro organisms which live or depend on other living
organisms for their survival or food or both. Amoebiasis is an intestinal
parasitic illness which is caused by a single-celled microscopic parasite
called Entamoeba histolytica. It is the simplest organism of the
animal kingdom which belongs to the class of Rhizopoda, order of Amoebida,
genus of Entamoeba and species of E.Histolytica.
Gastroenteritis (diarrhoea or dysentery with abdominal pain and exhaustion)
is the main symptom of amoebiasis. In day-to-day life, amoeba is often
misunderstood as a worm, but it is not so. Amoeba is a protozoa which is a
primitive unicellular organism which usually multiplies by binary fission i.e.
asexual mode of reproduction. It consists of cytoplasm and nucleus only. But
Helminths (worms) are multicellular intestinal parasites which have mouth,
digestive tract and anus and they multiply sexually.
Lifecycle of amoeba
The lifecycle of Entamoeba histolytica involves active trophozoites,
inactive cysts and carrier(s). When trophozoites or cysts are swallowed with contaminated
foods or drinks, they reach the stomach first. There, trophozoites usually die
due to the acidic nature of gastric juices. But cysts are resistant to these
acids or any chemical reaction. So, they thrive and reach the large intestine,
where they usually live.
The enzyme trypsin in the small intestine helps the excystation process
(hatching of cyst to become active trophozoites). After excystation, four
amoebulae (young trophozoites) emerge from each cyst and divide once to form
eight amoebulae. These trophozoites destroy or burrow the lining tissues of the
large intestines and make flask-shaped cavities which contain mucous, cell
debris and organisms. This process will induce irritability of the intestines
and diarrhoea to clean up the intestines. In this process it often spreads to
another person or places. Trophozoites are often carried in faeces with mucous
and Rbcs (red blood cells). The cysts passed in faeces can stick on to soil,
grass, vegetables and fruits, which then get contaminated. They either enter
the human intestine directly with the contaminated food or indirectly through
ingesting animal food or intestines.
Cysts can also get into the blood vessels and spread to other organs of the
body while they burrow the intestinal wall. While spreading to other organs in
the human body like liver, lungs, brain or spleen, they will not reproduce or
cause any more spread since the cysts cannot get excystation due to lack of
trypsin. So, in these cases, they reach a dead-end in their lifecycle.
Risk factors
·
Taking food contaminated with cysts causes more risk than
foods contaminated with trophozoites since cysts are resistant to gastric acid
juices.
·
Being close to the sufferer or to asymptomatic cyst
passers carries more risk due to constant infection or re-infection.
Incidences: Depending upon the amount of sanitation and
cleanliness, anyone can be infected or affected with amoebiasis. But incidences
are more common in youngsters than old people or children. The occurrence of
amoebiasis is also more common in tropical, poor countries where there is no
proper sanitation. The possibility or probability of it spreading inside the
body as amoebic liver abscess is about 5-10 per cent, as amoebic lung abscess
is 1-2 per cent and as amoebic brain abscess is less than 1 per cent.
Causes: Even though there is constant spread of infection,
(within a family or in a hotel) some people are resistant to amoebiasis. Even
if infected, some are only carriers and do not suffer from it. This shows that
the ultimate cause of suffering is hidden than the exposed causative factor
i.e. amoeba.
Amoeba infects in two ways.
From cysts,
·
Taking contaminated food or drinks
·
Taking vegetables and fruits which have been contaminated
by the soil
·
Taking non-veg foods (meat and intestines of animals –
goat, pig, beef, etc.)
As with trophozoites,
·
From pets
·
From human carriers directly to others thro’ food
contamination, sharing towels, etc.
·
Unhygienic conditions and poor sanitation – especially
after using the toilet
Symptoms:
Most of the cases may not have any symptoms at all and function only as
carriers and also function as spreaders, polluting the areas wherever they go.
The disease symptoms usually start after a period of 7-15 days of infection
which is called the incubation period. The symptoms are in two forms:
1. By burrowing the intestines and making ulcers, which bleed and cause
anaemia or other diseases due to added infection
2. Absorbing the food from the host or letting out toxic substances in the
intestines
·
Usually symptoms start with diarrhoea (watery stools) and
abdominal pain (mostly in right hypochondrium)
·
Poor appetite or fear of food due to abdominal pain and
loose stools
·
Later, with increased intensity of the infection, fever,
nausea and bloody stools i.e. characteristic amoebic dysentery with slimy
mucous occurs and complicate the condition
·
In due course, the patient loses weight and stamina
·
Sometimes allergic reactions can occur throughout the
body, due to release of toxic substances or dead parasites inside the
intestines
Complications:
·
Complications usually develop after the trophozoites
enter the blood stream to infect other organs. They especially invade the
liver, which purifies blood
·
Anaemia due to blood loss in stools
·
Septicaemia due to abscesses in intestines, liver, lung,
brain, spleen, etc.
·
Perforation of intestines and peritonitis which lead to
shock or septicaemia
·
Jaundice due to spread in liver (with liver abscess)
·
Constant infection leads to appendicitis or stricture of
intestines
Effects:
·
Constant foul smelling stools due to infected ulcers
caused by amoeba
·
Intestinal damage or scarring which restrict normal
absorption of nutrients
·
Fits or epilepsy due to spread in brain as brain abscess
or cysts in brain
Prevention
General
·
Practice good sanitary conditions
·
Make servers or chefs wear gloves while preparing or
serving food to avoid food contamination
Personal
·
Take care of drinking water – either opt for mineral
water or water boiled for 20 minutes
·
Wash hands before food and after using the toilet
·
Cut and keep your nails clean
·
Wash vegetables and fruits well in flowing water before
intake or cooking
·
Avoid sharing towels with infected persons
·
Avoid alcohol for preventing intestinal complications
while having amoebiasis
Diagnosis:
Stool examination – Microscopic examination for identifying
demonstrable E.H cysts or trophozoites in stool samples is the most
confirmative method for diagnosis. Trophozoites survive only for a few hours,
so the diagnosis mostly goes with the presence of cysts. But fresh warm faeces
always show trophozoites. The cysts are identified by their spherical nature
with chromatin bars and nucleus. They are noticed as brownish eggs when stained
with iodine.
Biopsy also can point out E.H cysts or trophozoites.
Culture of the stool also can guide us for diagnosis.
Blood tests may suggest infection which may be indicated as
leucocytosis (increased level of white blood cells), also it can indicate
whether any damage to the liver has occurred or not.
Ultrasound scan – it should be performed when a liver abscess is
suspected
General treatment
Usually, in Allopathy, a course of anti-protozoal (Metronidazole) is given
for eliminating the amoebic trophozites. This will work very temporarily, i.e.
till its eggs or cysts get hatched. So, again and again the course of medicines
may be required. Sometimes, side-effects of the medicines, such as nausea,
dizziness, vomiting, constipation, headache, rashes, poor appetite, abdominal
pain, etc., do not allow the patient to take them continuously, for a course of
time. This shows that research is still in its infancy since the effort to kill
the trophozoites and cysts in the large intestines of the sufferer or carrier
is still a challenge.
Homeopathic approach to amoebiasis
Amoebiasis usually starts as an acute problem and becomes persistent as a
chronic complaint. Some persons take bitter leaves like neem, or vegetables
like bitter gourd or any other self-medication to ‘kill’ the amoeba, but an
overdose of these things only hinders the digestive process.
Also, many of the patients keep going from doctor to doctor to find a cure.
A lot of persons constantly suffer from ameobiasis or its recurrence, even
while undergoing treatment. This means the attempt to kill protozoa or destroy
the eggs is not effective. In Homeopathy, we treat symptoms of patients rather
than the disease or its effects. Homoeopathy not only relieves the condition
but also cures the condition without any persistent usage of drugs or
dependency or habit-forming or any side-effects.
Homeopathic medicines commonly used in cases of amoebiasis are Aloes, Ars
alb, Baptisia, Chinchona, Colocynth, Ipecac, Kali Bich, Lycopodium, Mer cor,
Nux vom, Podophyllum, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox, Sulphur, Thrombidium, Thuja, etc.
These Medicines should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a qualified
Homeopath.
for
new hope
Dr. S. Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)
Laxmi Homeo Clinic
24 E. New Mahalipatti Road
Madurai, TN 625 001
India
Tel: +91-984-319-1011 (Mob /
Whatsapp)
Clinic : +91-452-233-8833 |
E-mail: drcheena@gmail.com
(Disclaimer: The contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The
content is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice,
diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for
any health problem or medical condition.)