Amebiasis in the epidemiologic transition in Mexico: its morbidity and mortality trends in the Mexican Institute of Social Security.

Amebiasis is one of the most common parasite-related diseases and one of those with the greatest impact on health. At the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Mexican Institute of Social Security-IMSS) approximately half a million cases per year are currently treated. Of these, more than 2500 correspond to the form which invades the liver. Within the process of epidemiologic transition which Mexico is undergoing, a progressive reduction has been observed in incidence of, and mortality due to, invading amebiasis in all its clinical forms. In turn, there is a significant decrease in its fatality rate. The social and economic development and improved sanitary conditions observed in Mexico, particularly in the second half of this century, may have conditioned this process. The improvement in availability, accessibility and utilization of medical care services could also explain the reduction which has been noted in its fatality rate and mortality. The model for epidemiologic transition proposed by Omran and adapted for Mexico by Frenk, offers a plausible explanation for the changes observed in the occurrence and mortality of invading amebiasis in Mexico.