Spectrum of amebiasis in children

R. J. Merritt, E. Coughlin, D. W. Thomas, L. Jariwala, V. Swanson and F. R. Sinatra

In 11 patients with childhood amebiasis, only two had dysentery. Additional clinical findings included hematochezia without diarrhea (four patients), dysentery with appendicitis (one patient), exacerbation of ulcerative colitis (two patients), and disseminated infantile amebiasis (two patients). All patients with hematochezia examined by proctosigmoidoscopy had colitis. The diagnosis of amebiasis was confirmed by microscopic examination of fresh stool specimens, pathologic findings, and/or serologic titers. Amebiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants and children with hematochezia or hepatomegaly, especially in endemic areas.