Are you a Doctor?  |   Sign-In  |   Sign-up   
Ask a Doctor app on Android
Get your Health question answered in 3 easy steps
A Doctor will be with you shortly
Ask a Doctor Now
169 Doctors are Online

Balantidiasis

Publsiher
1737 Views
Balantidiasis is defined as large-intestinal infection with Balantidium coli. B coli are known to parasitize the colon, and pigs may be its primary reservoir. Most cases of balantidiasis in individuals are asymptomatic.

 

Signs and symptoms

  • Diarrhea - watery, bloody, and mucoid
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain/cramps
  • Anorexia
  • Weight loss
  • Headache
  • Mild colitis
  • Fever
  • Severe and marked fluid loss resulting in dehydration (resembling amebic dysentery)

 

Balantidiasis

 

 

Causes

 

Risk factors for balantidiasis

  • Contacts with pigs
  • Handling fertilizer contaminated with pig excrement
  • Living in areas where the water supply may be contaminated by the excrement of infected animals.
  • Poor nutrition
  • Achlorhydria
  • Alcoholism
  • Immunosuppression

Tests and diagnosis

  • Wet smear stool specimens
  • Chest X-ray may show pulmonary involvement in patients with balantidiasis.
  • CT- chest reveals reveal pulmonary parenchymal and lymph node involvement.

Complications

  • Perforation of ulcer
  • Peritonitis
  • Gastro intestinal bleeding
  • Severe dehydration

Preventive measures

  • Purification of drinking water
  • Proper handling of food stuffs
  • Careful disposal of human feces and excreta
  • Monitoring the contacts of balantidiasis patients

Treatment

  • Antibiotics- Tetracycline 500 mg 4 times a day for 10 days
  • Metronidazole- 500 mg 3 times a day for 5 days
  • Contact Amebicide- Iodoquinol
Related Premium Questions

 

All the information, content and live chat provided on the site is intended to be for informational purposes only, and not a substitute for professional or medical advice. You should always speak with your doctor before you follow anything that you read on this website. Any health question asked on this site will be visible to the people who browse this site. Hence, the user assumes the responsibility not to divulge any personally identifiable information in the question. Use of this site is subject to our Terms & Conditions
What people are searching on Healthcaremagic
Online Doctor Online Medical Advice How is Myalgic Encepahlomyelitis treated ? Does swollen cervical lymph node indicate cancer ? High thyroid levels, low calcium, high cholesterol. Hyper or hypo thyroid ? Do my smyptoms indicate that I have HIV ? Can alcohol be taken with Metoprolol and Lisinopril ? Lack of sex, irregular sex life, functional ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breast changes Vulvar vitiligo, pruritis, UTI, flaky nails, hair thinning. AIDS symptoms ? Can my seven year old son take tdap vaccination after taking toxoid vaccination ? Delayed periods, headaches, stomach cramps, swollen breasts, leg cramps. Causes and treatment ? How is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome treated ? How is cervical cancer treated ? How is acute cholestasis treated during pregnancy ? Low sexual drive, tiredness, depression. Reason? Swelling in lower abdomin, total hysterectomy, above scar. This is? Reduced GFR, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, night time flank pain, severe raynaud's, carpal... How is bone cyst or osteoporosis treated ? On hydroxycut, hair loss. Suggest. Pulmonary embolism, pulse deteriorates from physical activity, on coumadin, oxygen saturation... How are dents and depression in the skull treated ? What are the side effects of stopping betnovet ? Diagnosed right leg tumor. Surgery done. Nerve cut. Leg growing thinner. Fix with a surgery? Hearing voice from the ears. Took long flights. Is that the reason? Severe headache, hot and cold flashes, dizziness, fatigue, severe knee pain. Help Has seizure, experiencing nose bleeds frequently. What could this be? Blisters on hand. Painful, enflamed. Subsides, black spots, then skin peels off. Problem? Suffering from excessive acid reflex, sleeplessness. Treatment? Stiff shoulders and weak legs after physical activity. Burning sensation on the back. Reason? Have pain in joints. Have been on pain killers for a long time. What is the remedy for this? Recurring intense burning sensation inner thigh, feeling skin is touched by something hot.... What means the heart size is within normal limits? Red blood spots on soles of foot. No itching or paining. What could be this? Pain in lower abdomen , uncomfortable pressure in bladder, slower flow of urine. Remedy? Have numbness, tingling and pain in hand. No medication till now. What can be the cause? Muscle pain, back pain, hip pain, difficulty in movement. What could be this? Severe headache, pain in wisdom tooth, restricted nasal passage. Cure for symptoms? Small amount of discharge while squeezing penis, no strong urine flow, urine dribbles during... Severe pain, unable to bite solid food, swollen and tender area behind ears. Histroy of jaw... Hair loss, brittle cracked nails, glared vision. Any ideas? Have tears and filled with emotions. No medication till now. What to do? Sore throat, swollen tonsils, lump, feeling week. What could be this?