Globalised world, globalised diseases: A case report on an amoebiasis-associated colon perforation

World J Clin Cases. 2013 May 16;1(2):79-81. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v1.i2.79.

Abstract

In 2010 the World Health Organisation estimated the number of infections with Entamoeba histolytica at about 50 million cases including 100000 fatal courses. In most cases this infection is a subclinical event with few or none symptoms noticeable for the patient. Courses of this disease and incidence of this parasite in industrialised nations are not yet fully investigated. Our case reports about a 68-year-old male patient from Turkey who lives for more than 30 years in Germany and had not been abroad during the past 2 years. Resistant asymptomatic amoebic dormant bodies caused an emergency-laparoscopy and revealed the seldom complication of a colon perforation. In the age of globalisation all providers in the health care systems are urged to acquaint themselves also with non-typical syndromes for the countries they work in order to reduce preventable morbidity respectively mortality rates.

Keywords: Amoebiasis; Colon perforation; Entamoeba histolytica; Surgical treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports