Emergence of amoebic dysentery mimicking Covid-19: A human case report from Iran

Abstract

Identical symptoms of coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) 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 SARS−CoV-2 infection in Iran with an emphasis on morphological and molecular diagnostic aspects of E. histolytica parasite. A 32-year-old woman with a history of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mild fever of 38°C was diagnosed as Covid-19 with no prescription of real-time RT-PCR as standard confirmatory laboratory test. Her later aggravated conditions such as fulminant dysentery has led to the diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica with parasitological and molecular methods. Treatment was completed with antiparasitic drugs including oral Metronidazole 500 mg, 3 times/day for ten days, and oral Iodoquinol 650 mg 3 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.