Dientamoeba Fragilis – Symptoms, Infection, Diagnosis and Treatment

Are you suffering from tiredness and stomach problems? Has your weight reduced greatly in recent times? You may be having a condition called Dientamoeba Fragilis. Read and know all about this condition, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and remedies.

What Is Dientamoeba Fragilis?

Dientamoeba Fragilis is a kind of infection caused by a one celled parasite of the same name that belongs to genus Dientamoeba. This parasitic infection affects the gastrointestinal tract of victims. This disease very rarely affects humans. An infection caused by Dientamoeba Fragilis parasite is known as Dientamoebiasis.

The reason behind the name Dientamoeba Fragilis is simple. The “Di” indicates the two nuclei inside the Trophozoites or the parasitic spore-forming protozoans.

Is Dientamoeba Fragilis Asymptomatic?

Dientamoeba Fragilis infection may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Many people carrying D. Fragilis parasites show no symptoms. However, symptoms may occur in case of a severe infection.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Symptoms

Some of the major symptoms of Dientamoeba Fragilis are :

Loose Feces

The stools of sufferers of this condition may be loose in nature.

Nausea

For people with Dientamoeba Fragilis Nausea is a common problem.

Diarrhea

Dientamoeba Fragilis patients often suffer from Diarrhea which start and stop at regular intervals. In Dientamoeba Fragilis constipation also occurs along with Diarrhea. For sufferers of Dientamoeba Fragilis irritable bowel is a major cause of discomfort.

Abdominal Cramps

Individuals affected with Dientamoeba Fragilis often suffer from cramps in the abdominal region which is highly discomforting and causes much pain.

Loss of Appetite

Dientamoeba Fragilis sufferers often complain of a loss of eating sensation due to constant bowel discomforts.

Weight Loss

Loss of appetite along with common Dientamoeba Fragilis bowel problems leads to loss of weight in sufferers. Most Dientamoeba Fragilis patients showing symptoms suffer from a visible weight loss.

Fatigue

In patients of Dientamoeba Fragilis fatigue is usually a common complaint. Tiredness is a major problem to deal with in case of Dientamoeba Fragilis in children.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Causes

As aforesaid, Dientamoeba Fragilis is caused by infection resulting from a nonflagellate trichomonad parasite by the name Dientamoeba Fragilis. The parasite rarely attacks humans but when it does, it nests itself in the large intestine. It looks like a small amoeba. This parasite is capable of causing low-grade inflammation along with gastrointestinal disorders and mucous diarrhea.

Who Gets Dientamoeba Fragilis?

Dientamoeba Fragilis is usually seen in people who live in places with poor sanitary conditions. Swallowing food or water containing pinworm eggs protecting this parasite or parasites of similar nature is a major cause for this problem. Accidentally touching an object contaminated with feces from someone infected with D. Fragilis parasites.

Where Is Dientamoeba Fragilis Found?

In Dientamoeba Fragilis environment plays a big factor. Places with poor sanitation are the usual regions for Dientamoeba Fragilis parasites to thrive.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Diagnosis

Dientamoeba Fragilis detection is usually done by examination of recent stools from a person suspected with the infection.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Treatment

The treatment of Dientamoeba Fragilis involves use of antiprotozoal medications like Metronidazole, Iodoquinol and Tetracycline. Flagyl is possibly the drug that is most commonly prescribed by physicians for Dientamoeba Fragilis cure. For patients of Dientamoeba Fragilis Doxycycline and Iodoquinol are also prescribed.

It is, however, not advisable to use these conventional drugs in pregnant women, lactating women or kids less than 8 years of age. Diiodohydroxyquin is quite effective in reducing symptoms in Dientamoeba Fragilis children.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Life Cycle

The complete life cycle of Dientamoeba Fragilis parasite has not been determined as yet. It has been suggested that this parasite is transmitted by the fecal-oral path. Dientamoeba Fragilis eggs exclusively live inside the human colon.

Dientamoeba Fragilis and Pregnancy

Dientamoeba Fragilis can cause complications in pregnant women. This mainly happens due to usage of drugs such as Flagentyl on would-be mothers. The strong effects of such medicines may complicate pregnancy and even result in a miscarriage. It is best to consult a physician and take his/her advice before trying such medicines on expecting mothers and lactating women. The strong effect of drugs can be harmful for health of infants. Sucking on mother’s milk contaminated with antiprotozoal Dientamoeba Fragilis medicines can leave permanent effects on the health of a child.

Is Dientamoeba Fragilis Contagious?

Dientamoeba Fragilis is said to be contagious infection. The disease is caused by parasites which are highly infectious agents. The Dientamoeba Fragilis parasite can pass on from person to person. An uninfected person coming in contact with the saliva, sputum, blood or feces of a Dientamoeba Fragilis-affected individual can get the disease. The parasite can also be transmitted through unclean needles, coughing, sexual contact and from mother to fetus.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Risk Factors

In case of Dientamoeba Fragilis complications are very few in number and mostly secondary such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. It does not lead to any serious disorders though in worse cases patients need to be immediately hospitalized.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Size

D. Fragilis parasites are rounded in appearance and their size can vary widely. Generally however, they have a size between 6 and 12 μm.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Medication Problems

In patients of Dientamoeba Fragilis antibiotics may give rise to complications like diarrhea. This happens because antibiotic usage not only kills the harmful bacteria but also the beneficial bacteria or probiotics in the gut that aids the digestive process. This causes digestive imbalance in sufferers ultimately resulting in Diarrhea. In such cases of Dientamoeba Fragilis probiotics need to be taken in artificially. Having yogurt, containing Probiotic bacteria, can help cure this problem.

Dientamoeba Fragilis is a fully curable condition. If you suspect yourself to be having this condition or witnessing the symptoms in someone else in your family, call up your doctor. The faster you seek medical attention the quicker is the chance of recovery for you.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dientamoeba_fragilis

http://www.health-diseases.org/diseases/dientamoeba-fragilis.htm

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/d/dientamoeba_fragilis/intro.htm

http://www.articlegarden.com/Article/Dientamoeba-fragilis—-Causes–Symptoms-and-Treatment/41759

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/dientamoeba/index.html

http://www.cdfound.to.it/html/Dienta.htm