A case report of recurrent amebic colitis after confirmation of complete healing by colonoscopy

Abstract

A 71-year-old male patient who had no history of being abroad suffered from mucous bloody diarrhea since September, 1982, and conservative therapy was done under the diagnosis for ulcerative colitis. Entamoeba histolytica was detected from the biopsy specimen of the erosion in the rectum at the colonoscopic examination in Octover, 1984. By the administration of Metronidazol, symptom disappeared and erosion healed endoscopically. Six years later, the patient again suffered from mucous bloody diarrhea. Colonoscopic examination showed small ulcer, erosion and hemorrhage in rectum, sigmoid and transverse colon, and biopsy specimen from the lesion showed the presence of Entamoeba histolytica. By the administration of Metronidazol, the lesion healed endoscopically. Concerning of the recurrent mechanism, incubation of the protozoa within intestinal canal or reinfection was supposed. © 1991, Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society. All rights reserved.