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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: Naegleria fowleri, also known as brain-eating amoeba, has recently caught the attention after it killed three children in Kerala. This deadly organism has caused four cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare brain infection in the state over the past two months, with three proving fatal.
The victims include a 14-year-old boy, a five-year-old girl from Malappuram who died on May 21, and a 13-year-old girl from Kannur who died on June 25. The threat isn’t limited to India; on July 7, an Israeli man also succumbed to the same condition.
Dr Tushar Tayal, Lead Consultant at the Department of Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram, informed The New Indian Team about the importance of comprehending all aspects of this bacterium and ways to avoid it.
Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba,” is a free-living micro-organism. It leads to a rare and severe brain infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), with an extremely high fatality rate.
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The bacteria live in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, and inadequately chlorinated swimming pools. It enters the human body through the nose, typically during swimming or diving in these waters. Once it enters the body, it travels to the brain, causing severe damage.
Symptoms typically appear within a week of being exposed. These typically consist of intense headaches, fever, feeling nauseous, and vomiting. As the illness advances, individuals might experience seizures, changes in mental functioning, hallucinations, sensitivity to light, and potential unconsciousness. Typically, the illness results in death 10-15 days after symptoms start.
Preventive measures focus on reducing the risk of water entering the nasal passages:
– Avoid swimming in warm freshwater bodies, especially during high water temperatures.
– Use nose clips or hold the nose shut when swimming or diving in warm freshwater.
– Ensure swimming pools and hot tubs are properly chlorinated and maintained.
– Use only distilled or sterilized water for neti pots or other nasal cleaning devices.
It can be diagnosed in various ways, such as understanding clinical history and rapid onset of symptoms in someone who has recently been in warm freshwater. Diagnosis can also be made through examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) under a microscope, antigen tests, or PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests to detect the presence of Naegleria fowleri DNA. Brain imaging techniques, such as CT or MRI scans, can identify inflammation and other brain changes.
Dr. Tayal further emphasised the importance of early diagnosis and treatment due to the rapid progression and high fatality rate of PAM. Awareness and preventive measures are crucial to safeguarding against this deadly infection.
