What is the Difference Between Amoebic Dysentery and Bacillary Dysentery?

Amoebic dysentery and bacillary dysentery are two main types of dysentery, differentiated by their causes. The key differences between them are:

Amoebic Dysentery:

Caused by a single-celled microscopic parasite, Entamoeba histolytica.
Mainly found in tropical areas.
Symptoms may include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In rare cases, the parasite may move to other areas of the body and cause an abscess.

Bacillary Dysentery:

Caused by invasive bacteria, such as Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli.
Common in developing countries with poor sanitation.
Symptoms may include severe diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Some cases can be life-threatening and require antibiotics and hospitalization.

Both types of dysentery are highly contagious and can spread through contaminated food or water, poor hygiene, and anal-oral sexual contact. Bacillary dysentery affects about 164 million people worldwide every year and kills more than 1 million people per year, mostly in developing countries. In some cases, amoebic dysentery can be more severe than bacillary dysentery, leading to complications such as liver abscesses.

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What is the Difference Between Amoebic Dysentery and Bacillary Dysentery?

Comparative Table: Amoebic Dysentery vs Bacillary Dysentery

Here is a table comparing the differences between Amoebic Dysentery and Bacillary Dysentery:

Feature	Amoebic Dysentery	Bacillary Dysentery
Cause	Entamoeba histolytica (protozoan parasite)	Invasive bacteria (e.g., Shigella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Enteroinvasive E.coli, Enterohemrorrhagic E.coli, Campylobacter sps, and Salmonella sps)
Origin	Single-celled parasite	Bacterial infection
Symptoms	Abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea with blood, mucus, and pus	Similar symptoms as Amoebic Dysentery, but may also include fever and tenesmus
Diagnosis	Microscopic examination of stool sample for the presence of Entamoeba histolytica	Microscopic examination of stool sample for the presence of bacteria and white blood cells
Treatment	Anti-protozoal drugs	Antibiotics (e.g., Ciprofloxacin, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and Nalidixic acid)
Water and Fluid Management	Drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration and taking IV fluids when necessary	Similar fluid management as Amoebic Dysentery, but anti-diarrheal medications should be avoided
Complications	Rare but can result in severe infection and life-threatening conditions	Chronic bacillary dysentery may cause severe conditions like hemolytic uremic syndrome
Incidence	Occurs mostly in hot countries	Affects about 164 million people worldwide every year, mostly in developing countries with poor sanitation

Both Amoebic and Bacillary Dysentery are gastrointestinal infections characterized by watery or bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other symptoms. They are typically caused by parasites or bacteria, respectively, and can be found mostly in hot countries.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.