OBSERVATIONS ON AMEBIASIS IN AMERICAN TROOPS STATIONED IN INDIA

Abstract

748 cases of amebiasis were observed. The disease was usually mild and manifested by intermittent diarrhea. Very few patients exhibited frank dysentery. The common complications were amebiasis of the liver, acute amebic appendicitis and urticaria. Hepatic involvement varied in severity from subacute hepatitis to acute abscess and invariably responded to emetine therapy. Appendicitis appeared to be due directly to the ameba in some cases, while in others the ameba appeared to play a secondary role by opening avenues for bacterial infection. Immediate appendectomy followed by anti-amebic therapy gave excellent results in both groups. The urticarias were probably due to sensitization to the ameba, since they responded specifically to antiamebic therapy. The demonstration of Endamoeba histolytica trophozoites in freshly passed stools following a brisk purge proved to be the simplest and most reliable diagnostic procedure. Routine use of moderate doses of emetine seemed to improve the end results of treatment with carbarsone, diodoquin and chiniofon.