News Excerpt:
Amoebic meningoencephalitis, once a rare disease, has become a growing concern in Kerala with three children diagnosed with the illness over the last two months, resulting in two fatalities.
About Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
- Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare brain infection that is caused by Naegleria fowleri.
- It is a free-living amoeba or a single-celled living organism.
- Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic ameba that lives in warm fresh water and soil around the world.
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- It can infect people when it enters the body through the nose, usually while swimming.
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- Once inside, it travels to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue and causes swelling.
- Higher temperatures of up to 115°F (46°C) are conducive to its growth and it can survive for short periods in warm environments.
- The amoeba can be found in warm freshwater, such as lakes and rivers, swimming pools, splash pads, surf parks, or other recreational venues that are poorly maintained or minimally chlorinated.
- People cannot get infected with Naegleria fowleri from drinking water contaminated with the amoeba.
- PAM is also non-communicable.
Symptoms of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
- The symptoms include headache, fever, nausea and vomiting.
- Later on, the patient may have a stiff neck and experience confusion, seizures, hallucinations and slip into a state of coma.
- According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
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- Most people with PAM die within 1 to 18 days after symptoms begin.
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- It usually leads to coma and death after 5 days.
Treatment for Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
- As earlier reported, scientists haven’t been able to identify any effective treatments for the disease yet.
- At present, doctors treat it with a combination of drugs, including amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine, and dexamethasone.
- Amoebic meningoencephalitis has a survival rate of only three percent, making it a critical health concern.
