Death of 13-year-old Kannur girl: Rare amoebic infection suspected

Kozhikode:  A rare amoebic infection has claimed the life of a young girl in Kerala. Dakshina (13), daughter of a couple from Kannur, passed away on June 12 while receiving treatment for fever at a private hospital in Kozhikode. Initial investigations indicate that a rare amoebic infection was the cause of death.

The girl initially sought treatment for severe headache and vomiting at a private hospital in Kannur. Due to her deteriorating health, she was shifted to Baby Memorial Hospital in Kozhikode.

During a school trip to Munnar on January 28, she had taken to swimming in a pool, which is believed to be the likely source of the infection.

Amoebic infections typically manifest symptoms within five days of getting infected. However, the girl only began showing symptoms around May 8. Samples taken from swelling near her spinal cord revealed the presence of amoebic trophozoites. Initially treated for amoebic meningoencephalitis with six drugs, further tests indicated that the infection was caused by vermamoeba vermiformis, rather than the typical amoebic meningitis.

Dr. Abdul Rauf, head of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Baby Memorial Hospital, stressed the need for expert analysis to understand various aspects of the pathogen, including incubation period, due to the exceptional nature of this case.

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 edema 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.

Dr. Rauf emphasized that amoebic meningitis does not spread from person to person, but recent cases have underscored the importance of public and medical vigilance. Chlorination of water sources, including swimming pools where amoeba thrives, plays a crucial role in prevention. Ensuring adequate chlorination of all public water bodies is therefore essential.