Treatment depends on the clinical presentation and on the site of drug action.
Metronidazole is the drug of choice for amoebic dysentery and amoebic liver abscess. It is effective in eradicating vegetative amoebae in the lumen of the bowel, in the bowel wall and in extraintestinal tissues. Nimorazole and tinidazole are newer, longer- acting nitroimidazole agents with a spectrum of activity similar to metronidazole and may be used as alternatives to the latter. They have no specific advantages and may be more expensive. Diloxanide is the luminal amoebicide of choice in chronic intestinal amoebiasis and is available from the manufacturing company on request.