The Role of Endamoeba Histolytica and Trichuris Trichiura in Bloody Diarrhea of Children in Puerto Rico

Abstract

Amebic dysentery is generally the diagnosis when increased frequency and fluidity of stools is associated with the passage of blood, mucus and actively motile trophozoites of Endamoeba histolytica. The failure of a small group of children exhibiting this syndrome to show uniform improvement when amebic infection was eradicated, and the observation that the signs, symptoms and therapeutic response correlated with the simultaneous overwhelming infection with Trichuris trichiura justify this communication.Method. Sixteen children with bloody diarrhea whose stools showed the presence of both E. histolytica and Trichuris trichiura were selected for study. All gave a history of six to ten bloody stools a day for six months to two years. These children were admitted to three study groups chosen at random.