Clinical Presentation of Balantidiasis
Most people who are infected
with Balantidium coli remain asymptomatic. An infected individual may have cysts or trophozoites in their
feces, but be free of any other symptoms or complaints (See Diagnosis).
Note: consult a physician
if you suspect you have Balantidiasis.
Although Balantidium coli usually resides in
the lumen of its host, trophozoites can invade the mucosa of the large
intestine (cecum and colon) and cause ulcerations. The parasite secretes a substance called hyaluronidase enzyme,
which helps degrade intestinal tissue and facilitates penetration of the
mucosa. Other bacteria in the intestine
may enter the ulcer along with Balantidium coli, leading to secondary
infections. Ulcerations of the large
intestine can be viewed using sigmoidoscopy (See Glossary).
Common symptoms of
Balantidiasis include chronic diarrhea, occasional dysentery (diarrhea with
passage of blood or mucus), nausea, foul breath, colitis (inflammation of the
colon), abdominal pain, weight loss, deep intestinal ulcerations, and possibly
perforation of the intestine.
|
|
|
Since these symptoms are
non-specific and common to other conditions such as amebic dysentery
or amebiasis, a diagnosis of
Balantidiasis must be made by microscopic examination of stool or tissue sample
(See Diagnosis).
Fulminating
acute Balantidiasis is when the disease comes on suddenly and with great
intensity. Left untreated, it is
reported to have a case fatality rate of 30%.
Dysentery due to hemorrhaging (bleeding) can lead to shock and
death. It is important to consider what
other health conditions a patient might have that render them more vulnerable
to severe Balantidiasis: for example, other intestinal infections or parasites,
malnutrition, alcoholism, compromised immunity, or a history of chronic
disabling diseases. Infection may be more likely and symptoms are
certainly more severe in debilitated individuals. Unfortunately, poor overall health is a common trait of the
populations most affected by Balantidium coli (See Epidemiology).
The symptoms described are
for the acute cases that appear when Balantidium coli is invasive. Most infections are asymptomatic. Still, asymptomatic individuals can transmit
the disease, which highlights the importance of Public Health Interventions.
Incubation period
After
ingestion of an infective Balantidium coli cyst, days to weeks may pass
before infection occurs.
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|||