Prevention of extraintestinal amebiasis includes:

• Wash your hands after using the toilet.

• Do not drink unpasteurized milk.

• Do not share food utensils.

• Wash your hands after handling raw meat, seafood, or poultry.

• Make sure all meat, poultry and fish products are well cooked. Images

• Travelers can take 2 tablets of Pepto-Bismol with each meal and at bedtime.

Travelers to countries where sanitary standards are low can reduce their chances of acquiring amebiasis by:

• Drinking only water that has been bottled in sanitary conditions or boiled (water-purifying tablets are ineffective against amebic cysts)

• Eating only cooked or peeled vegetables or fruits

• Protecting food from fly contamination

• Washing hands after defecation and before preparing or eating food

Notes: Stephen J. Schueler, MD

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EditText of this page (last edited April 14, 2009)