title: Amebic Liver Abscess in Israeli Travelers: A Retrospective Study.
abstract: Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is endemic in developing countries. The epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the disease in developing countries are well described. Travelers from nonendemic countries can serve as a model for the natural history of ALA. Currently, the available literature on travelers is limited. This is a retrospective observational study on Israeli travelers diagnosed with ALA. Data regarding travel history, clinical presentation, imaging, and treatment were collected and analyzed. Among 6,867 ill returning Israeli travelers, amebiasis was diagnosed in 53 travelers (0.77%), of whom 14 were with ALA (0.2%). Twelve ALA cases (86%) had an exposure in the Indian subcontinent. The male to female ratio was 1:1, with no significant clinical differences between the sexes. The average lag period between exposure and onset of symptoms was 17.1 months. The lack of male predominance and the prolonged lag period may imply that behavioral factors are pivotal in the development of ALA. Larger case series of travelers are required.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; The Center for Geographic Medicine, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lachish
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; The Center for Geographic Medicine, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wieder-Finesod
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; The Center for Geographic Medicine, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel elischwa@post.tau.ac.il.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult