A 14-year-old boy has succumbed to amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and deadly brain infection, at a private hospital in Kerala, state health officials reported. The infection, caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated water, was contracted after the child swam in a small pond, leading the health department to implement immediate preventive measures.
This tragic incident marks the third reported case of this infection in Kerala since May. Previous fatalities included a five-year-old girl from Malappuram on May 21 and a 13-year-old girl from Kannur on June 25.
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Amoebic meningoencephalitis, caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, typically occurs in warm freshwater sources such as lakes and rivers. The amoeba enters the body through the nose during water activities, causing inflammation of brain tissue and leading to the potentially fatal condition known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
What is Naegleria fowleri
Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic organism commonly found in untreated water and soil. Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the nasal passages during activities like swimming or diving. From there, it travels to the brain, causing severe inflammation.
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Symptoms of amoebic meningoencephalitis
Infection symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and altered mental state. Although rare, these infections necessitate precautions such as avoiding warm freshwater activities, using nose clips, and ensuring water sources are properly treated.
Treatment of amoebic meningoencephalitis
There are currently no widely effective treatments for PAM. Medical professionals manage the disease with a combination of medications, including amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine, and dexamethasone.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most individuals with PAM perish within 1 to 18 days of symptom onset. Once symptoms begin, patients typically deteriorate rapidly, often entering a coma and dying within approximately five days.
Previous cases
This disease has been reported in Kerala before, with cases in the coastal Alappuzha district in 2023 and 2017.
