Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of amoebiasis

Abstract

With increasing international travel and migration, tropical and infectious diseases once largely confined to specialist institutes now present more widely. Amoebiasis is a potentially dangerous example since it may closely mimic the presentation of inflammatory bowel disease. Misdiagnosis and treatment with immunosuppressants can result in fulminant amoebiasis and death. This review considers the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of intestinal and extraintestinal amoebiasis. It is written primarily for gastroenterologists, surgeons and acute physicians.