Amebiasis

Report within 24 hours of Diagnosis to the Local Health Department.

Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite. This parasite lives in the intestines and produces eggs (cysts) which are passed from the body in the stool. Stool from infected people may contaminate water or food. A person becomes infected by swallowing cysts of the parasite. Some ways this can occur are by eating food which has been prepared by an infected person who has poor personal hygiene or drinking contaminated water. An infected person can spread the disease to others as long as cysts are being passed in the stool. Symptoms may include diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever.

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Last Reviewed: 3/14/2019