Recently, a rare amoebic infection called amoebic meningoencephalitis had claimed the life of a young girl in Kerala. Lets understand the symptoms and  measures to be taken to prevent the disease.

What is amoebic meningoencephalitis?

Amoebic meningoencephalitis is an extremely rare central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by a type of free-living amoeba called Naegleria fowleri, also known as ‘brain-eating amoeba’. This disease is not transmitted from human to human. 

The amoeba is found in soil and in ponds, rivers, streams, unchlorinated swimming pools and stagnant water. When the body is exposed to stagnant water, the amoeba enters the human body through the nose and causes encephalitis, seriously affecting the brain. 

Amoebic meningitis typically appears in two forms: primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE).

PAM progresses rapidly when water containing the amoeba enters the nasal passage, allowing it to migrate to the brain, causing inflammation, cerebral edoema and potentially fatal complications within days. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting and sensitivity to light, primarily affecting healthy adolescent males during warm months.

In contrast, GAE, more common in adults, develops over a longer period, often through inhalation or skin contact, with symptoms such as fever, headache, altered mental status or seizures appearing over weeks to months.

Symptoms
Symptoms appear within one to nine days of the infection. The primary symptoms include:

  • severe headache
  • Fever
  • Nausea and vomiting 
  • Neck stiffness and pain
  • Symptoms like epilepsy, loss of consciousness, and memory loss can be experienced in critical situations.

The infection is diagnosed by examining the fluid around the spinal cord.

Preventive measures

  • Avoid bathing in unhygienic, stagnant water.
  • Avoid nasal irrigation with unclean water.
  • Only enter properly chlorinated swimming pools.