Brain-Eating Amoeba (Naegleria fowleri)
Syllabus: Health (UPSC Prelims)
Source: Indian Express
Context:
Kerala has reported three new cases of the deadly brain-eating amoeba, including the death of a nine-year-old, raising public health concerns.
What is it?
- A free-living amoeba (Naegleria fowleri) that causes Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but often fatal brain infection.
Transmission:
- Enters the body through the nose while swimming or bathing in contaminated freshwater.
- Migrates to the brain, destroying tissue.
- Not spread through drinking water or person-to-person contact.
Habitat:
- Warm freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers, poorly maintained pools, splash pads.
- Thrives in temperatures up to 46°C.
- Sometimes found in soil and dust.
Symptoms:
- Early: Headache, fever, nausea, vomiting.
- Advanced: Stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, coma.
- Progresses rapidly, often leading to death within 5–18 days.
Treatment:
- No specific cure; survival rates are extremely low (~3%).
- Combination therapy (Amphotericin B, Miltefosine, Fluconazole, Azithromycin) may help.
- Kerala has reported relatively better survival due to early detection.
