Abstract

Aims: Amebiasis is endemic in Iran and its infection rate is about 8-40. Considering the diagnostic problems, studies on amebiasis have been sparse and little study has been performed compared to other countries. This study was done with the aim of assessing the clinical and laboratory characteristics of enteric symptomatic amebiasis in one of Tehran's hospitals. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional analytical survey was performed on 159 patients who referred to the GI clinic of one of Tehran's hospitals who were selected by Census sampling method, between March and June 2009. Stool exam and serologic assessment was performed for all included patients. Ten days after treatment, stool and serology tests were requested again with the same sampling conditions. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistical methods and Chi square test with SPSS 14 software. Results: Highest and lowest frequency of clinical symptoms belonged to dysentery and vomiting. According to the first stool exam, 37 patients were infected with Entamoeba histolytica/dispar. Among them, 18 patients had cysts, 12 patients had trophozoites and 7 patients had both. After treatment, stool exam was positive only in two patients who had cysts. Conclusion: Stool exam is a very poor diagnostic test for Entamoeba histolytica and more accurate methods such as serology or antigen test or PCR are recommended for the diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica which is the only pathogen type.