Complications

Complication
Timeframe
Likelihood
short term
low

Occurs in less than 1% of patients.

Occurrence may increase with corticosteroid use.

Requires surgery as unlikely to respond to antiamoebic medication.[1][5]

Toxic megacolon

short term
low

Occurs in less than 1% of patients.

Occurrence may increase with corticosteroid use.

Requires surgery as unlikely to respond to antiamoebic medication.[1][5]

short term
low

Fulminant amoebiasis, presenting as peritonitis due to intestinal perforation, is rare but life-threatening.

Occurrence may increase with corticosteroid use.

Requires surgery as unlikely to respond to antiamoebic medication.[1][5]

short term
low

Rare complication; little is known about prognosis.[3] Patients may report altered mental status or limb weakness. 

Brain abscess

short term
low

Amoebic acute appendicitis is a rare manifestation of amoebiasis and is associated with a higher rate of complications and mortality than non-amoebic appendicitis. Histopathological examination and extra precautions are warranted when amoebic appendicitis is suspected.[8][Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Amoebic appendicitis with skin fistula two weeks after appendectomy (enhanced computed tomography).Original photo from National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. [Citation ends].com.bmj.content.model.Caption@41b83270[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Hematoxilin-Eosin stain (A-C) and Periodic acid-Schiff stain (D-F) of resected appendix of amoebic appendicitis. Entamoebas are deeply dyed by Periodic acid-Schiff stain.Original photo from National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. [Citation ends].com.bmj.content.model.Caption@6e0d3ad5

Acute appendicitis

variable
low

Annular granulation tissue in the caecum or ascending colon, extending from the wall into the lumen. Can be mistaken for colonic carcinoma.

Responds to medical therapy.[1]

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