Warning: fopen(/home/virtual/colon/journal/upload/ip_log/ip_log_2025-03.txt): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/virtual/lib/view_data.php on line 95 Warning: fwrite() expects parameter 1 to be resource, boolean given in /home/virtual/lib/view_data.php on line 96 Clinical Characteristics of Amebic Colitis as Diagnosed by using Colonoscopic Findings.
Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

Ann Coloproctol : Annals of Coloproctology

OPEN ACCESS
SEARCH
Search
Advanced Search
mobile menu button

Articles

Page Path
HOME > J Korean Soc Coloproctol > Volume 22(6); 2006 > Article
Original Article
Clinical Characteristics of Amebic Colitis as Diagnosed by using Colonoscopic Findings.
Moon, Gyoo , Park, Jong Beom , Paik, Chang Hee , Hur, Chang , Chang, Hee Chul , Kim, Hyun Shig , Park, Young Hee , Lee, Jung Dal
Journal of the Korean Society of Coloproctology 2006;22(6):357-362

1Digestive Endoscopy Center, Song Do Colorectal Hospital, Korea. sun6230@kornet.net
2Department of Pathology, Song Do Colorectal Hospital, Korea.
3Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
next
  • 1,144 Views
  • 15 Download
  • 0 Crossref
  • 0 Scopus
Full Article

Download PDF Download PDF

Abstract

PURPOSE
Nowadays, with improvements in hygiene and in the sewage system, the prevalence of amebic colitis in Korea is declining. However, amebic colitis still occurs every year. We investigated the clinical features of current patients with amebic colitis and compared the results with those for a past endemic period in Korea.
METHODS
From June 2000 to June 2005, 10 patients were diagnosed in the Digestive endoscopy center of Song Do colorectal hospital as having amebic colitis. We evaluated their medical histories, clinical characteristics, and colonoscopic findings.
RESULTS
The male-to-female ratio was 1.5 : 1. The mean age was 38.4+/-11.4 years. The mean diagnostic period from occurrence of symptoms to diagnosis was 20.4+/-17.5 days. The clinical symptoms of amebic colitis were diarrhea (80%), bloody stool (70%), mucoid stool (60%), abdominal pain (50%), fever, weight loss, nausea, and fatigue. Seven patients (70%) had a history of travel, and six of those seven patients had taken trips abroad. The foreign areas of travel included India (50%), Indonesia (28.6%), and Japan (16.7%). The diagnostic methods were colonoscopic biopsies to detect trophozoites of Entameba histolytica (90%) and serologic tests for the anti-ameba antibody (10%). The most common colonic locations of the lesions were the cecum (80%) and the rectum (80%). Another was the ascending colon (30%); pan-colonic involvement was also seen (10%).
CONCLUSIONS
In the past, the cause of amebic colitis in Korea was poor hygiene. Nowadays, however, travel to amebiasis-endemic areas may be the most important cause. Therefore, the travel history of diarrheal patients is an important diagnostic factor in cases of amebic colitis and a differential diagnosis factor in cases of inflammatory bowel disease.

Related articles
Ann Coloproctol : Annals of Coloproctology Twitter Facebook
© Korean Society of Coloproctology.
TOP