The emergence of amoebic dysentery mimicking COVID-۱۹: A human case report from Iran

Identical symptoms of coronavirus disease-۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) with infectious and non-infectious disease have become challenging issue for health professions. In the present study, we describe a human case of amoebic dysentery mimicking severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ۲ (SARS−CoV-۲) infection in Iran with an emphasis on morphological and molecular diagnostic aspects of Entamoeba histolytica parasite. A ۳۲-year-old woman with a history of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mild fever of ۳۸°C was diagnosed as COVID-۱۹ with no prescription of real-time RT-PCR. The patient was prescribed having azithromycin ۵۰۰ mg/day for ۵ days. Her later aggravated conditions such as fulminant dysentery has led to the diagnosis of E. histolytica with parasitological and molecular methods. SARS-CoV-۲ infection was ruled out in the second visit using real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. Treatment was completed with antiparasitic drugs including oral metronidazole ۵۰۰ mg, ۳ times/day for ten days, and oral iodoquinol ۶۵۰ mg ۳ times/day for twenty days. In general, health professions must be vigilant in all aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients to prevent any medical errors and misdiagnosis.

کلیدواژه ها:

Entamoeba histolytica ، Amoebiasis ، Dysentery ، SARS−CoV-۲ ، COVID-۱۹