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 antiamebic 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 antiamebic medication.[1][5]

short term
low

Fulminant amebiasis, 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 antiamebic 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

Amebic acute appendicitis is a rare manifestation of amebiasis and is associated with a higher rate of complications and mortality than non-amebic appendicitis. Histopathological examination and extra precautions are warranted when amebic appendicitis is suspected.[8][Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Amebic 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@7e6864dc[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 amebic 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@4bd85dba

Acute appendicitis

variable
low

Annular granulation tissue in the cecum 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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