Drugs and Medicines Used in Amoebiasis and Other Protozoal Infections
Definition
Amebiasis is an infectious disease caused by a parasitic one-celled microorganism (protozoan) called Entamoeba histolytica. Persons with amebiasis may experience a wide range of symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, and cramps. The disease may also affect the intestines, liver, or other parts of the body.
Description
Amebiasis, also known as amebic dysentery, is one of the most common parasitic diseases occurring in humans, with an estimated 500 million new cases each year. It occurs most frequently in tropical and subtropical areas where living conditions are crowded, with inadequate sanitation.
Other Drugs
Tetracyclines and paromomycin are also used in the treatment of amoeabiasis as they inhibit the intestinal flora essential for the multiplication of amoebae. Paromomycin is directly amebicidal. It is recommended that anti-amoebic drugs be given along with tetracyclines. It is always best to have a course of metronidazole or tinidazole, to be followed by an intestinal amoebicidal drug.
Drugs for Extra-intestinal Amoebiasis
With the advent of metronidazole and tinidazole all drugs used in amoebic abscess of liver (commonest form of extra-intestinal amoebiasis) have become less important. Drugs like emetine and dehydroemetine are now rarely used.
Chloroquine (Lariago, Resochin)
It is a commonly used drug for malaria and has anti-amoebic effects on liver but no effects on intestinal amoebiasis. It is given for 21 days in hepatic amoebiasis.
Drugs for Protozoal Infections
Protozoa are 'one-celled' organisms common organisms are entameba hystolytica, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis. Amoebiasis, as described above, is caused by E. hystolytica.
Giardia Lamblia is a cosmopolitan protozoa and resides in the small bowels of humans and animals. It is known as 'Grand old man of intestines'. It causes pain in abdomen, loose stools and bloating. Sometimes there is vomiting and poor absorption of important nutrients. Its treatment is given in the table.
Trichomonas vaginalis, as the name indicates, is a common cause of vaginal infections in females. In males, it may be found in genital organs (urinary passage, prostate) and is usually without symptoms. However, males may transmit infection to their spouses during active sexual life.
In females, vaginal infection causes foul smelling discharge, irritation, itching, redness , burning during urination and pain during sexual intercourse. Local treatment of vaginitis is described in the chapter on Sexually Transmitted Diseases & AIDS. The oral medicines are described in the table. It is important to treat both the partners for eradication of infection.
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