The Brain-Eating Amoeba: Naegleria fowleri

1. A 15-year-old boy in Kerala's Alappuzha district has died of a rare infection caused by Naegleria fowleri or "brain-eating amoeba".
2. He suffered from high fever for a week and his body organs rapidly deteriorated.
3. He used to take bath in a drain near his house, the likely source of the amoeba, which is known to thrive in any natural environment, especially in warm water habitats.
4. However, it does not survive in salt water and is therefore not found in marine water.
5. It survives on bacteria found in sediments in lakes and rivers.

What is Naegleria fowleri?

About:

1. Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba," is a unicellular organism found in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, hot springs, and poorly maintained swimming pools.
2. It is a microscopic organism visible only under a microscope.
3. The amoeba enters the body through the nose and can trigger a severe brain infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

Key points:

Spread in the Human Body:

1. The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, is usually acquired through the nasal passage and mouth when an individual engages in activities like swimming, diving, or participating in religious rituals involving contaminated water.
2. Subsequently, the amoeba migrates through the olfactory nerve to the brain, triggering severe inflammation and destruction of brain tissue.
3. It is important to note that Naegleria fowleri infection does not spread from person to person.

At-risk Individuals:

1. While humans are generally susceptible to Naegleria fowleri, infections are exceptionally rare.
2. Specific factors such as a weakened immune system or a history of nasal or sinus problems may increase vulnerability.
3. Additionally, activities involving exposure to warm fresh water may also increase the risk of infection.

Symptoms and Prognosis:

1. Symptoms usually appear within a week of infection and include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, and hallucinations.
2. The infection progresses rapidly and can lead to coma and death. The chances of survival are unfortunately low.

Treatment:

1. Treatment involves a combination of medications.
2. The drug miltefosine has shown efficacy in killing Naegleria fowleri in the laboratory and has been used successfully to treat the few survivors.
3. Even with treatment, survival rates from Naegleria fowleri infections are low, with mortality rates as high as 97 percent.

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