amebiasis /am′ēbī″əsis/ , an infection of the intestine or liver by pathogenic amebae, particularly Entamoeba histolytica, acquired by ingesting fecally contaminated food or water. Infected carriers can be asymptomatic (luminal ambiasis); they may develop invasive intestinal disease with dysentery, colitis, or appendicitis or invasive extraintestinal disease with peritonitis and liver or lung abscess. Infection is most serious in infants, the elderly, and debilitated people. Amebiasis may require treatment with luminal amebicides (iodoquinol, paromomycin) to eradicate cysts and/or systemic treatment with metronidazole. Also spelled amoebiasis. See also amebic abscess, amebic dysentery, hepatic amebiasis.
