Balantidium coli: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:54, 10 October 2019

Worldwide distribution but most common in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and the Middle East
Found in contaminated food and water
Domestic and wild pigs are the main reservoir, but has been found in other mammals

Ingestion of cysts
In the small bowel, the cysts release trophozoites
Trophozoites migrate to the large bowel, where they form cysts in the bowel wall and reproduce

Mostly asymptomatic
Can cause a chronic intermittent diarrhea with abdominal pain and weight los
Rarely presents with bloody stools and fulminant colitis
- May be complicated by intestinal perforation
Case reports of pulmonary and urinary tract infections

First-line: tetracycline 500 mg po qid for 10 days
Alternatives:
- metronidazole 750 mg po tid for 5 days
- iodoquinol 650 mg po tid for 20 days

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+* Largest protozoan
+== Background ==
+=== Microbiology ===
+* Largest protozoan
+* Only ciliated protozoan that infects humans
+=== Epidemiology ===
+* Worldwide distribution but most common in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and the Middle East
+* Found in contaminated food and water
+* Domestic and wild pigs are the main reservoir, but has been found in other mammals
+=== Life Cycle ===
+* Ingestion of '''cysts'''
+* In the small bowel, the cysts release '''trophozoites'''
+* Trophozoites migrate to the large bowel, where they form cysts in the bowel wall and reproduce
+== Clinical Presentation ==
+* Mostly asymptomatic
+* Can cause a chronic intermittent diarrhea with abdominal pain and weight los
+* Rarely presents with bloody stools and fulminant colitis
+** May be complicated by intestinal perforation
+* Case reports of pulmonary and urinary tract infections
+== Diagnosis ==
+* Stool O&P for rapidly motile trophozoites
+** Cysts are rarely seen
+== Management ==
+* First-line: [[Is treated by::tetracycline]] 500 mg po qid for 10 days
+* Alternatives:
+** [[Is treated by::metronidazole]] 750 mg po tid for 5 days
+** [[Is treated by::iodoquinol]] 650 mg po tid for 20 days
 {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Balantidium coli''}}