Cutaneous amebiasis in a child and review of the literature

Cutaneous amebiasis is a rare manifestation of infection with the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. We describe this infestation in a 9-year-old Mexican immigrant who presented with diarrhea and perianal ulcers. To our knowledge, this is only the tenth child with cutaneous amebiasis reported in the literature, and only the second from the United States. We review previous reports and emphasize the importance of a high index of clinical suspicion for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent potentially serious morbidity and even mortality.