According to the health service, infected individuals typically go into a coma and pass away five days after symptoms appear.
New Delhi: A rare brain infection claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy from Kozhikode, Kerala. After swimming in a contaminated pond, the youngster, Mridul, became infected with Naegleria fowleri, which was brought on by a free-living amoeba, according to news agency PTI.
This is the third such death in Kerala since the infection-related death of a 5-year-old Malappuram girl on May 21. Not long after, on June 25, a 13-year-old Kannur girl also died from the virus.
What is Naegleria fowleri?
The microscopic creature known as Naegleria fowleri amoeba can be found in soil, untreated water, and warm freshwater environments such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and hot springs. It is possible for an amoeba to enter the nose and make its way to the brain when swimming or diving in contaminated water. This results in a serious infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is frequently fatal. Treatment is necessary right away since it spreads swiftly, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
How to prevent Naegleria fowleri infection when swimming
The following actions are advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Steer clear of water activities in warmer months when water temperatures are high and water levels are low, as these conditions favour Naegleria fowleri
- Use a nose clip or hold your nose shut if you jump or dive into the water
- Keep your head above water in hot springs and other naturally hot (geothermal) waters
- Avoid disturbing sediment in shallow, warm fresh water, as Naegleria fowleri is more likely to be found in the sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds, and rivers
- Boil tap water for 1 minute and let it cool before you rinse your sinuses using the neti pots, bulb syringes, squeeze bottles, and other nasal irrigation devices. Alternatively, use distilled, sterile, or filtered water
Naegleria fowleri infection: Treatments
As of now, PAM has no recognized viable treatments. A variety of medications, including amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine, and dexamethasone, are being used by doctors to treat the illness.
Headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and mental mood swings are among the symptoms. According to the CDC, the majority of PAM patients pass away one to eighteen days after their symptoms start. According to the health service, infected individuals typically go into a coma and pass away five days after symptoms appear.
