Brain-Eating-Amoeba(Naegleria fowleri)

Brain-eating amoeba ,also known as (Naegleria fowleri), what is brain eating amoeba? where it found? how deadly is this amoeba?

Naegleri fowleri is an amoeba that can cause a serious central nervous system infection. The amoeba is found in warm and still fresh water bodies of water and enters a human body through the nose.

Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba, is a species of the genus Naegleria. It belongs to the phylum Percolozoa and is technically classified as an amoeboflagellate excavate, rather than a true amoeba.

What is brain eating amoeba(Naegleria fowleri)?

The brain-eating amoeba, scientifically known as Naegleria fowleri, is a single-celled organism that can cause a rare but severe brain infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This amoeba is commonly found in warm freshwater environments like lakes, rivers, and hot springs.

Key Facts:

• Mode of Infection: It enters the body through the nose, usually when a person is swimming or diving in contaminated water. It then travels to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue.
• Symptoms: Early signs include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. As the infection progresses, symptoms worsen, leading to seizures, hallucinations, and ultimately coma.
• Fatality: The infection is almost always fatal, with a very low survival rate.
• Prevention: Avoiding activities that force water into the nose when in warm, untreated water can reduce the risk.

Where is brain eating amoeba found how common it is?

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba found in warm, fresh water environments like lakes, rivers, hot springs, and even poorly maintained swimming pools. It’s often referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba” due to its ability to cause a severe and often fatal infection of the central nervous system.

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, is extremely rare. In the United States, for example, there have been only about 0 to 8 cases per year on average.

Global Perspective:

• Since Naegleria fowleri is found worldwide in warm freshwater, PAM has the potential to occur anywhere with favorable conditions, though the total number of cases globally is still very low.
• In the U.S., between 1962 and 2023, there were around 160 confirmed cases of PAM.
• The fatality rate is over 97%, with very few survivors.

How Infection Occurs and what the symptoms are?

The infection typically occurs when contaminated water enters the nose. The amoeba travels up the nasal passages and into the brain, causing a condition called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

Symptoms of PAM

Initial symptoms often mimic a bacterial infection, including:

• Headache
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Confusion

As the infection progresses, symptoms can worsen, leading to:

• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Coma

Risk Factors

While anyone can be infected, those at higher risk include:

• People who swim in warm, freshwater lakes or rivers
• Individuals who use recreational water sources like hot tubs or water slides
• People who perform nasal irrigation with tap water

Treatment

PAM is a serious condition with a high mortality rate. Treatment often involves a combination of medications, including:

• Amphotericin B
• Miltefosine
• Fluconazole

However, even with aggressive treatment, the outcome is often fatal.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of infection:

• Avoid swimming in warm, stagnant water.
• Use bottled or filtered water for nasal irrigation.
• Maintain proper sanitation of swimming pools and hot

Survivors of PAM(disease from brain eating amoeba):

Survivors of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) are incredibly rare due to the infection’s high fatality rate. Out of the documented cases, only a few individuals have survived. Here are some notable cases:

Known Survivors:

1. Kali Hardig (2013): A 12-year-old girl from Arkansas, U.S., who contracted Naegleria fowleri after swimming in a water park. She was successfully treated with a combination of antifungal drugs, antibiotics, and therapeutic hypothermia (cooling of the body to reduce brain swelling). Kali’s survival is one of the few recorded successes.
2. Sebastian DeLeon (2016): A 16-year-old boy from Florida, U.S., who contracted the infection while swimming in a lake. Like Kali, he was treated with miltefosine (an anti-parasitic drug) and therapeutic hypothermia. He also survived and made a recovery.
3. Unnamed Survivor (1978): The earliest recorded survivor was a 9-year-old girl in California who recovered after a milder form of the infection. She was treated with the antibiotics amphotericin B and rifampicin.

Factors Contributing to Survival:

• Early Diagnosis: Rapid detection and intervention are key. PAM progresses very quickly, so early treatment is critical.
• Miltefosine: An anti-parasitic drug that has shown promise in treating Naegleria fowleri infections.
• Therapeutic Hypothermia: Lowering the body temperature to reduce brain swelling has been used in several successful cases.

These cases of survival remain exceptions, as PAM is still overwhelmingly fatal.