title: Short report: Amebiasis-related mortality among United States residents, 1990-2007.
abstract: Despite the endemic nature of Entamoeba histolytica infection in the United States there is a lack of data on amebiasis-related mortality. We analyzed national death certificate data from 1990 to 2007 to assess the occurrence of amebiasis-related deaths and determine demographic and regional associations. A total of 134 deaths were identified. Mortality rates were highest in males, Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and persons 75 years of age and older. An association with human immunodeficiency virus infection was also observed. A declining trend of amebiasis deaths was noted over the 18-year study period. Over 40% of fatal amebiasis cases occurred in residents of California and Texas. United States-born persons accounted for the majority of amebiasis deaths; however, all of the fatalities in Asian/Pacific Islanders and 60% of the deaths in Hispanics were in foreign-born individuals. Although uncommon, amebiasis-related deaths routinely occur in the United States.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. greenmunchkin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Janelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunther
authors.forename: Shira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafir
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bristow
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sorvillo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult