Entamoba Histolytica

Entamoba Histolytica is a highly contagious notifiable parasitic disease that infects the intestine and can be found world wide, however more commonly in Asia, Africa and South America. Infection mainly occurs through contaminated water, food or in connection with insufficient hand hygiene, sexual contact or fecal-contaminated objects. 

The infection can proceed relatively symptom-free in cases where the amoeba lives in the intestine without causing any damage to the intestinal mucosa. Sometimes it can also cause mild diarrheal disease and in the worst case painful intestinal contractions with frequent bloody bowel movements and greatly affect the general condition. 

The incubation period can vary from a few days to several months – more often it is around 2-4 weeks.