Balantidiasis - Medtick

Balantidiasis

What is it?

A Parasite infection form pig’s faecal matter.

This condition can be confused with cystitis and/or kidney infection

Diagnosis Tests
  • A stool sample to detect B. Coli trophozoites.

Cause

  • Parasite: Balantidium coli
  • Direct contact:
    • A person who deals with pigs directly
    • Faecal- oral route (not washing hands after going to the toilet)
  • Indirect contact:
    • Handling fertiliser with pigs faeces
    • Water supply contaminated with pig’s faeces
    • Contaminated food

Symptoms

  • Watery, bloody mucus and diarrhoea?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
  • Irritated, depressed, anxiety and/or panic attacks?
  • Periods of diarrhoea and constipation?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:


This condition can lead to:


Take the following steps to avoid passing the illness on to others:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after going to the toilet.
  • Stay away from work or school until you’ve been completely free from any symptoms for at least 48 hours.
  • Help young children to wash their hands properly.
  • Don’t prepare food for others until you’ve been symptom free for at least 48 hours.
  • Don’t go swimming until you’ve been symptom free for at least 48 hours.
  • Where possible, stay away from other people until your symptoms have stopped.
  • Wash all dirty clothes, bedding and towels on the hottest possible cycle of the washing machine.
  • Clean toilet seats and toilet bowls, and flush handles, taps and sinks with detergent and hot water after use, followed by a household disinfectant.
  • Avoid sexual contact until you’ve been symptom free for at least 48 hours.

NHS choices 


Travel

If you’re travelling to a country where there’s a high risk of getting the condition, the Information below can help prevent infection:

  • Don’t drink the local water unless you’re sure it’s clean (sterile) – drink bottled water or drinks in sealed cans or bottles.
  • If the water isn’t sterile, boil it for several minutes or use chemical disinfectant or a reliable filter.
  • Don’t clean your teeth with tap water.
  • Don’t have ice in your drinks because it may be made from unclean water.
  • Avoid fresh fruit or vegetables that can’t be peeled before eating.
  • Avoid food and drink sold by street vendors, except drinks in properly sealed cans or bottles.

NHS choices

Future advise especially when travelling to an infectious country:

  • Fresh foods: those that are peeled or cooked are the safest
  • Avoid high risk foods like shellfish
  • Boiling water is the best method of sterilisation
  • Chemicals are useful for preparing safe drinking water but have their limitations
  • Chlorine-based tablets are widely available and will be appropriate for most travellers
  • More intrepid travellers and those planning to use surface waters as a drinking water source should use an iodine-based product.
Panel 1: Choice of foods for the traveller
Usually safe Risky Best avoided
Freshly prepared and hot , cooked food  including meat and consume quickly. boiled dairy i.e. milk and/or Indian chai. Food from street vendors unless fresh and hot Poorly stored food Cold foods left standing especially sauces Avoid buffets (hot or cold) left standing along time
Peeled fruit Unpeeled fruit and salad unless well washed in clean water Broad leafed salad i.e. lettuce due to large surface area packed with organisms- harder to wash off all
Canned food Dried food (bread, rice and pasta ) and freshly baked bread Ice cream Shellfish Rare meat and fish Unpasteurised dairy products Ice containing drinks
  • Iodine or chlorine used for water purification (as discussed later) can also be used for soaking and manufacturers of food products give recommendations for the appropriate concentrations.

There are three methods by which the traveller can prepare clean drinking water:

  • Boiling:
    • Boil water for a full five minutes at any altitude.
  • Chemical disinfection:
    • Iodine, chlorine, katedyne silver.
  • Filtration

The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, January 2000;():DOI:10.1211/PJ.2000.20000218


This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Balantidiasis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

  • NHS

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  • Medscape

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  • Pharmaceutical Journal

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  • Drugs.com

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  • National Organisation of Rare Diseases

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  • Verywell Health

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  • Fit for Travel

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  • DR Axe

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