Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Causes of Amoebiasis
Amoebiasis is caused by a single-cell parasite called entamoeba histolytica. The parasite burrows into the wall of the intestine to cause small abscesses and ulcers. From there they enter the veins of the intestine and are carried to the liver. If enough of them reach the liver, they may cause large abscesses full of chocolate-brown or yellow pus consisting of broken-down liver tissue.
Amoebiasis is more likely to affect people who live or have travelled in developing countries, where sanitation and hygiene is poor. It occurs when a person eats or swallows something that has been infected with the entamoeba histolytica parasite. It is especially common in parts of the world where human excrement is used as fertiliser.
Amoebic dysentery can also be spread by anal sex or directly from person to person when personal hygiene is poor. Infection is most commonly caused by:
- eating or swallowing anything that has touched the stool of a person who is infected with entamoeba histolytica,
- swallowing something, such as water or food, that is contaminated with entamoeba histolytica, or
- touching, and bringing to your mouth, cysts (eggs) picked up from surfaces that are contaminated with entamoeba histolytica.
