The following text is from an archived Red Book® edition and may not reflect current recommendations or information. To view the current edition, click here.
Section 3. Summaries of Infectious Diseases
Blastocystis hominis Infections
Clinical Manifestations
Etiology
Epidemiology
Diagnostic Tests
Treatment
Isolation of the Hospitalized Patient
Control Measures
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: The importance of
Blastocystis hominis as a cause of gastrointestinal tract disease is controversial.
The asymptomatic carrier state is well documented.
Blastocystis hominis has been associated with symptoms of bloating, flatulence,
mild to moderate diarrhea without fecal leukocytes or blood,
abdominal pain, and nausea. When
B hominis is identified in
stool from symptomatic patients, other causes of this symptom
complex, particularly
Giardia lamblia and
Cryptosporidium parvum,
should be investigated before assuming that
B hominis is the
cause of the signs and symptoms.
ETIOLOGY: Blastocystis hominis is classified as a protozoan
and has 3 distinct stages: vacuolar, which is
. . . [Go to Full Text]
Related text in Red Book:
- Drugs for Parasitic Infections
Red Book
2006: 790-820.
[Extract]
[Full Version]