Symptoms of infection with the amoeba worm and methods of treatment

In this article from Dalili Medical, we will discuss how amoeba is transmitted from one person to another. Amoeba is a type of parasite that greatly affects human health, as it causes problems in the digestive system and liver. We will learn about the ways in which these parasites are transmitted and how to avoid them, so follow us.

**What is amoeba?**

Ameba infection is a contagious parasitic disease that affects the large intestine, and is transmitted to humans through contaminated water or food, leading to amoebiasis. Amoeba is a microscopic parasitic organism that cannot be seen with the naked eye, but it appears under a microscope, and when it enters the intestines, it grows and reproduces rapidly.

**How ​​long does amoeba treatment last?**

The treatment period for amoeba takes about two weeks.

**Does amoeba cause constipation?**

Yes, amoeba can cause alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation.

**Does amoeba lead to weight loss?**

Yes, amoeba can cause weight loss.

**Does amoeba cause shortness of breath?**
Yes, amoeba can cause shortness of breath if it reaches the chest cavity.

**Does garlic treat amoeba?**
Yes, garlic contains allicin, which may help get rid of amoeba.

**Does honey treat amoeba?**
Honey is known for its many benefits and antibacterial properties, but its effectiveness in treating amoeba is uncertain.

**Causes of amoeba infection**
Ameba is a single-celled protozoan parasite that reaches the human body through swallowing with food or water, and in some cases through direct contact with feces. Amoeba spreads through parasite cysts that are in an inactive state and live in soil and water, and the infection can be transmitted through anal sex. When the parasite enters the body, it settles in the digestive system and releases a stage called trophozoite, then the parasites multiply and migrate to the large intestine, where they can penetrate the intestinal wall, leading to bloody diarrhea and colitis.

**Is amoeba a serious disease?**
Ameba infection is caused by a parasite called Entamoeba histolytica, which penetrates the body when eating contaminated food or water. Amoebiasis is a serious disease that can lead to other health problems, and may even lead to death.

**Is amoeba contagious?**
Yes, amoeba is a contagious and serious disease, and it can infect adults and children alike, as it is transmitted from one person to another through direct contact or eating food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person.

**Most vulnerable to amoeba**
The groups most vulnerable to amoeba include:
- Residents of some tropical areas due to poor sanitation.
- Individuals in institutions with poor health conditions such as prisons.
- Men who have sex with men.
- People with weak immunity.

**Types of amoeba worms**
The types of amoeba worms are similar in appearance and symptoms, and the most prominent types are:
- The parasitic amoeba worm Entamoeba histolytica.
- Entamoeba dispar.
- Entamoeba moshkovskii.

**What are the risks of amoeba?**

The risks of amoeba are that it can cause serious health problems or even death in some cases, as about 70,000 people die each year worldwide as a result of this disease. Amoeba infection can lead to the following:

1. **Internal organ infection**: The infection may penetrate the intestinal wall or bloodstream, making it easier for it to spread to internal organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, and brain. This increases the risk of infection, abscesses, or severe fatigue, and may lead to death.

2. **Disturbing symptoms**: Although more than 90% of people infected with amoeba may not feel symptoms or suffer from mild symptoms, these symptoms can be annoying. It usually begins within a few months of the parasites entering the body, and mild symptoms include:
- Mild pain.
- Strange sounds from the lower abdomen.
- Watery stools two to three times a day.

More severe symptoms can appear in some cases, such as severe abdominal pain, high fever, and watery diarrhea more than ten times a day, often accompanied by blood or mucus. Symptoms become more serious when the infection spreads to the liver and causes a liver abscess, as symptoms include: fever, nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper right abdomen, weight loss, and an enlarged liver.

**Mild amoeba symptoms:**
- Mild abdominal pain.
- Soft stools.
- Change in stool color.
- Cramps in the lower abdomen.
- Sounds coming from the abdomen.

**Severe amoeba symptoms (amebic dysentery):**
- Severe abdominal pain.
- High fever.
- Severe diarrhea that may reach 10 times a day, and may contain blood or mucus.

**Severe amoeba symptoms:**
These symptoms appear when the amoeba infection moves from the large intestine to the liver, leading to a liver abscess. Symptoms include:
- Fever.
- Severe anemia.
- Vomiting.
- Nausea.
- Significant weight loss.
- Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right side.
- Enlargement of the liver.

**Rare symptoms:**
Sometimes, amoeba infection may spread to other parts of the body, including the brain and lungs.

**What disease does amoeba cause?**
Amebiasis is a parasitic infection of the intestine caused by the worm "E. histolytica", and its symptoms appear in the form of loose stools, abdominal cramps, and stomach pain. However, most people infected do not experience significant symptoms. Amoeba is more common in tropical countries that suffer from malnutrition, and is more common in the Indian subcontinent, parts of Central and South America, and some parts of Africa, while it is relatively rare in the United States.

E. histolytica worms usually enter the human body through contaminated food or water, but can also enter through direct contact with feces. An important cause of infection with the amoeba is sexual intercourse.

Oral or ingestion, or eating vegetables and fruits without proper cleaning. When amoeba enters the digestive system, it turns into an active form of parasites called "trozette", multiplies in the digestive system, and migrates to the large intestine, where it adheres to the intestinal wall or colon, leading to bloody diarrhea, colitis, and tissue destruction.

**How ​​do I make sure I'm cured of amoeba?**

Treatment of amoeba disease depends on the patient's adherence to the instructions and guidelines of the attending physician, as treatment methods vary according to the patient's health condition. In the event of early detection of the disease, the treatment period may take several weeks. After this period ends, the doctor asks the patient to undergo medical examinations to assess the rate of recovery.

**How ​​do I know that I've recovered from amoeba?**

The answer to this question is determined based on the results of the medical tests requested by the doctor. Amoeba tests vary according to the stage of the disease, whether early or late. Among the tests that the doctor may request:

1. **Stool analysis**: This test reveals the effectiveness of the treatment in eliminating the amoeba worm.

2. **Blood analysis**: It is used to assess the general condition of the patient.

3. **Using a medical endoscope**: It is used to detect the amoeba worm inside the colon, especially in advanced cases where the parasites have moved from the intestines to the colon.

4. **Liver analysis**: It is performed in cases where the amoeba has managed to move to the liver, as this test helps determine the percentage of amoeba presence or disappearance.

5. **Ultrasound imaging of the digestive system or liver**: This accurate imaging is used to assess the condition of the liver and the efficiency of its functions.

**When should you call the doctor?**

You should call the doctor if your child has signs or symptoms of amoebiasis, such as:
- Diarrhea with blood or mucus
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Abdominal swelling
- Pain in the liver area (under the ribs on the right side)

Your child should also be examined if he or she has persistent diarrhea without other symptoms.

**Signs of recovery from amoebiasis**

During the treatment phase, some signs appear that indicate the body's response to treatment, including:
- Decrease in stomach pain.
- Improvement in the digestive system, such as the disappearance of cramps.
- Stool color returning to normal, which is one of the most important signs of recovery.
- No feeling of nausea or vomiting.
- Improvement in the health of the colon.
- Gradual weight gain, or weight returning to what it was before infection.
- Regaining appetite, as amoebiasis causes loss of appetite.

**Treatment of amoeba in children**

There are several ways to treat amoeba in children, depending on the type of amoeba the child is infected with, which include the following:

**Treatment of cystic amoeba**
A group of medications are available that help treat amoeba in children when it appears in the form of cysts, such as diloxinide furate, paromycin, or iodoquinol. It is usually recommended to use one of these medications with metronidazole to cleanse the intestines of cysts and prevent recurrence of infection, as well as to avoid the transmission of symptoms to the liver or other parts of the body.

**Treatment of invasive amoeba**
In this case, the child is given tinidazole or metronidazole for children over three years of age, according to a dose determined by the doctor and a treatment period that depends on the severity of the condition. In some cases, the previous medications may not work, but there are other medications that have proven effective in treating cystic amoeba.

**Methods of treating amoeba**
Methods of treating amoeba include the following:

1. **Drug therapy**: Doctors rely on a group of medications to treat amoeba, including antifungals and antibiotics such as chloroquine phosphate, tinidazole, metronidazole, diloxanide, paromomycin, and nitroimidazole.

2. **Surgical intervention**: If drug therapy fails, the doctor may need to perform surgery to treat amoeba permanently. It should be noted that infection that reaches the liver can be very serious, and may lead to colon disorders or liver damage, and in rare cases, the infection may reach the diaphragm.

**How ​​to get rid of amoeba permanently**
- **Treatment of amoeba with coconut**: Coconut is a powerful antiparasitic, as it fights the parasites that cause amoebiasis and activates the immune system. The fruit itself or its oil can be used. It is recommended to drink two glasses of coconut water to replace fluids lost due to diarrhea, and take 2-3 tablespoons of pure coconut oil to expel parasites from the body.

- **Marjoram**: Marjoram has unique properties that help destroy the cell wall of amoeba, which contributes to its elimination. It can be used by mixing 3 drops of marjoram oil with lemon juice and a cup of water, and drinking this mixture 3 times a day.

- **Garlic**: Garlic is considered an antibiotic and antiparasitic that helps the body get rid of harmful parasites and boosts the immune system. It is recommended to eat 2-3 cloves of garlic daily on an empty stomach for a few weeks, or take fortified garlic pills after consulting a doctor.

- **Thyme**: Thyme is an effective herb in fighting parasites and treating amoebiasis, as it contains antioxidants and antibiotics. You can mix 2-3 drops of thyme oil with lemon juice and a cup of water, and drink it 3 times a day. It is preferable to add fresh thyme to daily food, while avoiding its use for pregnant women and children.

- **Lilac or Neem Leaves**: Neem leaves are considered an effective treatment for amoebiasis due to their anti-parasitic properties. It is recommended to chew 5-6 neem leaves daily on an empty stomach for a few weeks, or drink a tablespoon of neem juice twice daily. You can also take fortified neem pills or capsules after consulting a doctor, while avoiding their use for pregnant women.

- **Turmeric**: Turmeric helps the body eliminate parasites thanks to its antibiotic, antibacterial, antiseptic and antioxidant properties.

**How ​​to use 

Turmeric to treat amoeba**

Turmeric can be used to treat amoeba by taking a teaspoon of natural turmeric juice with a little salt daily on an empty stomach for a period ranging from one to two weeks. Turmeric can also be added to foods or taken fortified grains after consulting a doctor.

**Cloves**

Cloves are characterized by their effective properties in killing parasites and their eggs. A drink can be prepared by adding a teaspoon of clove powder to a cup of hot water, then soaking it and drinking it three times a day for a week. Cloves can also be chewed.

**Pumpkin seeds**

Pumpkin seeds are a popular food in combating amoeba, as they contain amino acids and fatty acids such as berberine and cucurbitin, which are known for their effectiveness against some parasites. An animal study showed that pumpkin seed extract reduced the number of adult parasites in mice.

**Guava Leaves**
Guava leaves are highly acidic, which helps destroy parasites in the intestines, thus helping to get rid of amoeba and worm eggs.

**Barberry**
Barberry contains berberine, which studies have shown may help eliminate parasites such as amoeba, making it commonly used in herbal amoeba treatment recipes.

**Black Tea**
Drinking black tea without sugar daily helps get rid of intestinal parasites, and also helps expel toxic waste resulting from parasites.

**Cucumber**
Cucumber is one of the best vegetables for removing worms and bacteria from the digestive system. It is recommended to grind it and drink it as a natural juice on an empty stomach to increase its effectiveness in treating amoeba.

**Peanut Butter**
Peanut butter contains folic acid, vitamin E, and antioxidants, which help kill amoeba worms and destroy bacterial cells in the body.

**Oats**
Oats contain nutrients such as protein and fiber, in addition to vitamin E, vitamin B, and zinc, which enhance the body's ability to fight worms.

**Methods of preventing amoeba**
After treatment for amoeba, preventive measures must be taken to prevent its return. Healthy people can follow the following tips:

1. Maintain personal hygiene, and avoid using other people's personal tools.
2. Drink filtered water or pure mineral water.
3. Boil water well before using it to prepare drinks.
4. Wash hands before and after eating.
5. Wash hands when returning home.
6. Use hand sanitizer when going out.
7. Dispose of garbage regularly.
8. Avoid buying fast food or from untrustworthy vendors.
9. Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating them.
10. Peel fruits before eating.
11. Boil vegetables well to kill bacteria.
12. Use insecticides to repel flies and cockroaches that may transmit bacteria.