I.

PERSONAL DATA:
NAME: xxx
AGE: 4 years and 6 months old
GENDER: Female
BIRHTDATE: August 4, 2004
ADDRESS:
RELIGON: Roman Catholic
NATIONALITY: Filipino
II.PAST HEALTH HISTORY:
As stated by her mother, Mrs. xx, xxx has been admitted in the hospital about one year ago because of fever. It was
diagnosed by the physician as typhoid fever. According to Mrs. Gina, it was not that severe because she immediately seeks
medical advice for the illness of her daughter. She also reported that Jessabel had a complete immunization against the 7
immunizable diseases.
III.PRESENT HEALTH HISTORY:
xxx, 4 years and 6 months old, came to the OPD at 8:30 am on January 25, 2010 with a chief complaint taken as stomach
cramps and loose stool for 4 days. But yesterday her stool has blood that`s why her parents decided to consult a physician.
Jessabel`s vital signs were recorded as follows: Temperature=36.9 degrees Celsius; Weight=18 kg.
The medical diagnosis of Dr. xx was amoebiasis (amoebic dysentery). He prescribed metronidazole 125 mg. to be taken
three times a day for 5 days.

IV.PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF AMOEBIASIS

Amoebiasis or Amebiasis refers to infection caused by the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica. A gastrointestinal infection that
may or may not be symptomatic and can remain latent in an infected person for several years, amoebiasis is estimated to
cause 70,000 deaths per year worldwide. Symptoms can range from mild diarrhea to dysentery with blood and mucus in the
stool. E. histolytica is usually a commensal organism. Severe amoebiasis infections (known as invasive or fulminant
amoebiasis) occur in two major forms. Invasion of the intestinal lining causes amoebic dysentery or amoebic colitis. If the
parasite reaches the bloodstream it can spread through the body, most frequently ending up in the liver where it causes
amoebic liver abscesses. Liver abscesses can occur without previous development of amoebic dysentery. When no symptoms
are present, the infected individual is still a carrier, able to spread the parasite to others through poor hygienic practices.
While symptoms at onset can be similar to bacillary dysentery, amoebiasis is not bacteriological in origin and treatments
differ, although both infections can be prevented by good sanitary practices.

Nature of the disease

Most infected people, perhaps 90% are asymptomatic, but this disease has the potential to make the sufferer dangerously
ill. It is estimated by the World Health Organization that about 70,000 people die due to amoebiasis annually worldwide.
Infections can sometimes last for years. Symptoms take from a few days to a few weeks to develop and manifest
themselves, but usually it is about two to four weeks. Symptoms can range from mild diarrhea to dysentery with blood and
mucus. The blood comes from amoebae invading the lining of the intestine. In about 10% of invasive cases the amoebae enter
the bloodstream and may travel to other organs in the body. Most commonly this means the liver, as this is where blood from
the intestine reaches first, but they can end up almost anywhere.
Onset time is highly variable and the average asymptomatic infection persists for over a year. It is theorized that the absence of

symptoms or their intensity may vary with such factors as strain of amoeba, immune response of the host, and perhaps
associated bacteria and viruses.
In asymptomatic infections the amoeba lives by eating and digesting bacteria and food particles in the gut, a part of the
gastrointestinal tract. It does not usually come in contact with the intestine itself due to the protective layer of mucus that
lines the gut. Disease occurs when amoeba comes in contact with the cells lining the intestine. It then secretes the same
substances it uses to digest bacteria, which include enzymes that destroy cell membranes and proteins. This process can lead
to penetration and digestion of human tissues, resulting first in flask-shaped ulcers in the intestine. Entamoeba histolytica
ingests the destroyed cells by phagocytosis and is often seen with red blood cells inside when viewed in stool samples.
2

Especially in Latin America, a granulomatous mass (known as an amoeboma) may form in the wall of the ascending colon or
rectum due to long-lasting immunological cellular response, and is sometimes confused with cancer.

Diagnosis of human illness

Immature E. histolytica/E. dispar cyst in a concentrated wet mount stained with iodine. This early cyst has only one
nucleus and a glycogen mass is visible (brown stain). From CDCs Division of Parasitic Diseases
Asymptomatic human infections are usually diagnosed by finding cysts shed in the stool. Various flotation or
sedimentation procedures have been developed to recover the cysts from fecal matter and stains help to visualize the isolated
cysts for microscopic examination. Since cysts are not shed constantly, a minimum of three stools should be examined. In
symptomatic infections, the motile form (the trophozoite) can often be seen in fresh feces. Serological tests exist and most
individuals (whether with symptoms or not) will test positive for the presence of antibodies. The levels of antibody are much
higher in individuals with liver abscesses. Serology only becomes positive about two weeks after infection. More recent

developments include a kit that detects the presence of amoeba proteins in the feces and another that detects ameba DNA in
feces. These tests are not in widespread use due to their expense.

Amoebic dysentery in colon biopsy.

Microscopy is still by far the most widespread method of diagnosis around the world. However it is not as sensitive or
accurate in diagnosis as the other tests available. It is important to distinguish the E. histolytica cyst from the cysts of
nonpathogenic intestinal protozoa such as Entamoeba coli by its appearance. E. histolytica cysts have a maximum of four
nuclei, while the commensal Entamoeba coli cyst has up to 8 nuclei. Additionally, in E. histolytica, the endosome is centrally
located in the nucleus, while it is usually off-center in Entamoeba coli. Finally, chromatoidal bodies in E. histolytica cysts are
rounded, while they are jagged in Entamoeba coli. However, other species, Entamoeba dispar and E. moshkovskii, are also
commensals and cannot be distinguished from E. histolytica under the microscope. As E. dispar is much more common than E.
histolytica in most parts of the world this means that there is a lot of incorrect diagnosis of E. histolytica infection taking
place. The WHO recommends that infections diagnosed by microscopy alone should not be treated if they are asymptomatic
and there is no other reason to suspect that the infection is actually E. histolytica.
Typically, the organism can no longer be found in the feces once the disease goes extra-intestinal. Serological tests are
useful in detecting infection by E. histolytica if the organism goes extra-intestinal and in excluding the organism from the
diagnosis of other disorders. An Ova & Parasite (O&P) test or an E. histolytica fecal antigen assay is the proper assay for
intestinal infections. Since antibodies may persist for years after clinical cure, a positive serological result may not necessarily
indicate an active infection. A negative serological result however can be equally important in excluding suspected tissue
invasion by E. histolytica.

Transmission
Amoebiasis is usually transmitted by the fecal-oral route, but it can also be transmitted indirectly through contact with
dirty hands or objects as well as by anal-oral contact. Infection is spread through ingestion of the cyst form of the parasite, a
semi-dormant and hardy structure found in feces. Any non-encysted amoebae, or trophozoites, die quickly after leaving the
body but may also be present in stool: these are rarely the source of new infections. Since amoebiasis is transmitted through
contaminated food and water, it is often endemic in regions of the world with limited modern sanitation systems.
Amoebic dysentery is often confused with "traveler's diarrhea" because of its prevalence in developing nations. In fact,
most traveler's diarrhea is bacterial or viral in origin.

Prevention
To help prevent the spread of amoebiasis around the home:

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and hot running water for at least 10 seconds after using the toilet or changing a
baby's diaper, and before handling food.

Clean bathrooms and toilets often; pay particular attention to toilet seats and taps.

Avoid sharing towels or face washers.

To help prevent infection:

Avoid raw vegetables when in endemic areas, as they may have been fertilized using human feces.

Boil water or treat with iodine tablets.

Good sanitary practice, as well as responsible sewage disposal or treatment, are necessary for the prevention of E.histolytica
infection on an endemic level. E.histolytica cysts are usually resistant to chlorination; therefore sedimentation and filtration of
water supplies are necessary to reduce the incidence of infection.
5

V.Anatomy and Physiology:

Amebiasis is an intestinal illness thats typically transmitted when someone eats or drinks something thats
contaminated with a microscopic parasite called Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica). The parasite is an amoeba, a singlecelled organism. Thats how the illness got its name amoebiasis.

In many cases, the parasite lives in a persons large intestine without causing any symptoms. But sometimes, it invades
the lining of the large intestine, causing bloody diarrhea, stomach pains, cramping, nausea, loss of appetite, or fever. In
rare
cases,
it
can
spread
into
other
organs
such
as
the
liver,
lungs,
and
brain.
Structure. The GI System consists of the oral structures, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and
associated structures.

Oral Structures include the lips, teeth, gingivae and oral mucosa, tongue, hard palate, soft palate, pharynx and salivary
glands.

The esophagus is a muscular tube extending from the pharynx to the stomach.
6

1. Esophageal openings include:

o a. The upper esophageal sphincter at the cricopharyngeal muscle.

o b. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES), or cardiac sphincter, which normally remains closed and opens only to pass
food into the stomach.

The Stomach is a muscular pouch situated in the upper abdomen under the liver and diaphragm. The stomach consists of
three anatomic areas: the fundus, body (i.e., corpus), and antrum (i.e., pylorus)

Sphincters. The LES allows food to enter the stomach and prevents reflux into the esophagus. The pyloric sphincter
regulates flow of stomach contents (chyme) into the duodenum.

The small intestine, a coiled tube, extends from the pyloric sphincter to the ileocecal valve at the large intestine.
Sections of the small intestine include the duodenum, jejunum and ileum

The large intestine is a shorter, wider tube beginning at the ileocecal valve and ending at the anus. The large intestine
consists of three sections:

1. The cecum is a blind pouch that extends from the ileocecal valve to the vermiform appendix.

2. The colon, which is the main portion of the large intestine, is divided into four anatomic sections: ascending,
transverse, descending and sigmoid.

3. The rectum extends from the sigmoid colon to the anus.

The ileocecal valve prevents the return of feces from the cecum into the small intestine and lies at the upper border of
the cecum.

The appendix, which collects lymphoid tissues, arises from the cecum.

The GI tract is composed of five layers.

1. An inner mucosal layer lubricates and protects the inner surface of the alimentary canal.

2. A submucosal layer is responsible for secreting digestive enzymes.

3. A layer of circular smooth muscle fibers is responsible for movement of the GI tract.

4. A layer of longitudinal smooth muscle fibers also facilitates movement of the GI tract.

5. The peritoneum, an outer serosal layer, covers the entire abdomen and is composed of the parietal and visceral layers.

II. Function. The GI system performs two major body functions: digestion and elimination.

Digestion of food and fluid, with absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream, occurs in the upper GI tract, stomach and
small intestines.

1. Digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and the action of ptyalin, an enzyme contained in saliva that breaks down
starch.

2. Swallowed food passes through the esophagus to the stomach, where digestion continues by several processes.

o a. Secretion of gastric juice, containing hydrochloric acid and the enzymes pepsin and lipase ( and renin in infants)

o b. Mixing and churning through peristaltic action

3. From the pylorus, the mixed stomach contents (i.e. chyme) pass into the duodenum through the pyloric valve.

4. In the small intestine, food digestion is completed, and most nutrient absorption occurs. Digestion results from the
action of numerous pancreatic and intestinal enzymes (e.g., trypsin, lipase, amylase, lactase, maltase, sucrase and bile).

Elimination of waste products through defacation occurs in the large intestines and rectum. In the large intestine, the cecum
and ascending colon absorb water and electrolytes from the now completely digested material. The rectum stores feces for
elimination.

VII. MEDICAL AND NURSING MANAGEMENT

A. Laboratory exams ordered

There is no laboratory examination ordered by the physician.

B. Drug Study, Medications Ordered

GENERIC/BRAND
NAME

DOSE/
AMOUNT

ROUTE OF
ADMINISTRA

INDICATION

CONTRAINDICATION/ SIDE EFFECTS

9

Metronidazol
e

AND
FREQUENCY
125 mg. 1
tab three
times a day
for 5 days

TION
Per Orem /
by mouth

All
symptomatic
forms of
amoebiasis.
Serious
infection due
to
susceptible
anaerobic
bacteria.

CONTRAINDICATION:
Hypersensitivity to metronidazole.
Pregnancy and lactation.
SIDE EFFECTS:
Nausea and vomiting, metallic taste in
the urine, headache, dizziness,
darkening of the urine, diarrhea
and abdominal distress

C. NURSING CARE PLAN

CUES

NURSING
DIAGNOSIS
AND
ETIOLOGY

NURSIN
G
OBJECTI
VES

HEALTH
CARE
INTERVENTI
ON

RATIONALE

EVALUATION

10

Client
claimed of
stomach
pain

Stomach
cramps is
one of the
signs and
symptoms
of
amoebiasis

To be
able to
provide
measure
s to
alleviate
pain

Perform
comprehen
sive
assessment
of stomach
cramps
including
the
location,
characterist
ics,
frequency
and
severity
Encourage
verbalizatio
n of pain

Patient`s
mother
request for
further
explanatio
n
regarding

Low level
of
understan
ding about
the drug

To be
able to
provide
necessa
ry
informat
ion

Provide
comfort
measures
Provide
thorough
explanation
regarding
the right
dose,
frequency,

To assess the
pain as
claimed by
the patient

Client reports that pain was

relieved after following the
suggested regimens

Pain is a
subjective
and cannot
be felt by
others
To comfort
the patient

To increase
the patient`s
compliance
with medical
regimen

The mother asks questions which

signifies that
she fully understand the instructions
about the drug.

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the
prescribed
drug

about
the drug

indications,
contraindic
ation

12