Lung & Liver Abscess Complications Associated with Amebiasis, a GI Infection

For many adults, complications of the gastrointestinal system lead to impaired quality of life. While many GI complications can be managed with proper diet and exercise, there are some complication that progress into far greater complications.

Amebiasis is a gastrointestinal complication attributed to an infection. While some individuals who suffer from the parasite lead relatively normal lives, passing the parasite through the body and into the stool, there are some individuals who suffer far greater health complications; those that involve both infections within the intestines and infection outside of the intestines.

If you suffer from a gastrointestinal complication that may be attributed to a parasitic infection, it is important to seek medical attention early when the symptoms begin. Because infections such as amebiasis often lead to infection of areas outside of the GI tract, early diagnosis and treatment is vital to your health. Without proper treatment, nearly 20 percent of all patients suffering from amebiasis will eventually develop complication within the lungs, specifically development of pleural effusion. As a result, when sputum is coughed up, it may contain infectious disease that can then be transmitted to others.

In addition to lung complications, if you suffer from improperly diagnosed and managed amebiasis, you may also be at risk for developing abscess. Most notably, abscess will develop in the abdominal cavity, often affecting the liver. When the left aspect of the liver is affected by abscess, this complication may lead to life threatening health status.