Neonatal amoebiasis

The authors report a case of neonatal amebiasis presenting with vomiting, refusal to feeds, abdominal distension and mucoid stools. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical appearance of stools and the presence of Entameba Histolytica. The purpose of this report is to alert to the possibility of amoebiasis in newborns, if baby presents with NEC like picture in an endemic area and to send the stool sample immediately to examine for trophozoites, especially because the diarrheal stool starts autolyzing within 30 min of defecation. This 14-day-old newborn, who was possibly infected with orally given jaggery solution is presented. He was successfully treated with intravenous tinidazole.