What is Naegleria fowleri – ‘Brain-eating amoeba’ that killed 5-year-old girl in Kerala?

Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs.

Edited By: Top Indian News Desk

Last Updated : 22 May 2024, 03:28 PM IST

cdc.gov

Depressing news has surfaced from Kerala’s Malappuram, where a 5-year-old girl has died due to amoebic meningoencephalitis at the government hospital in Kozhikode. According to the sources, the girl was undergoing treatment since May 13 and was kept on ventilator support for over a week. She could not be saved despite of best efforts of doctors. Amoebic meningoencephalitis was caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, a rare but severe brain infection.

All about Naegleria fowleri Amoeba

Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It can also exist in poorly maintained swimming pools and even in soil. While Naegleria fowleri is typically harmless when ingested, if it enters the body through the nose, it can cause a rare but severe and often fatal brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

PAM occurs when the amoeba travels through the nasal passages to the brain, where it causes inflammation and destruction of brain tissue. Initial symptoms of infection, which typically appear within one to nine days after exposure, may include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck. As the infection progresses, symptoms can worsen rapidly and may include confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. The infection usually leads to coma or death after 5 days, as per experts.

Low Survival Rate

Cases of Naegleria fowleri infection are rare, with only a few reported each year globally. However, the infection is almost always fatal, with a very low survival rate even with prompt treatment. Due to its rarity and severity, Naegleria fowleri infections can attract significant attention when they occur, leading to public health concerns, especially in regions where warm freshwater habitats are prevalent.

Reducing Risk

As per CDC experts, to help protect yourself against a Naegleria fowleri infection:

Hold your nose or wear a nose clip if you are jumping or diving into fresh water.
Always keep your head above water in hot springs.
Don't dig in shallow water because the ameba is more likely to live there.
Use distilled or boiled tap water when rinsing your sinuses or cleansing your nasal passages.

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What is Naegleria fowleri – ‘Brain-eating amoeba’ that killed 5-year-old girl in Kerala?