title: Differentiating amoebic ulcero-haemorrhagic recto-colitis from idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease: still a diagnostic dilemma.
abstract: The colon responds monomorphically to a variety of insults thus making it difficult to differentiate invasive amoebic colitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The authors present a case with chronic dysentery, haematochezia, anaemia and hypoproteinaemia. The endoscopic findings were suggestive of IBD. The stool examination was negative for trophozoites or cysts of parasites. The recto-colonic biopsy specimens showed mucosal inflammation with exudates containing amoebic trophozoites. The patient was successfully treated with metronidazole and iodoquinol. He recovered within two weeks and repeat colonoscopy four weeks after the treatment showed a normal rectum and colon. Clinicians should have a high level of suspicion for amoebic colitis in cases of colitis especially in regions where amoebiasis is still present. Efforts should be made to find the amoebic trophozoites in multiple stool and colonic biopsy specimens.
authors.affiliation: From: Peebles' Hospital, Department of Medicine, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. imaiyaki@yahoo.com
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iheonunekwu
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vantapool
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000563:Amebicides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D004103:Iodoquinol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000563:Amebicides; D008795:Metronidazole; D004103:Iodoquinol