Amoebas are single-celled organisms that have no definite shape. The brain-eating amoeba is a species discovered in 1965, and its common name is Naegleria fowleri. It generally thrives in warm freshwater bodies or untreated contaminated waters. The presence of an amoeba within the body leads to a rarely encountered, lethal infection and inflammation in the brain, resulting in the gradual consumption of brain tissue. This medical condition is referred to as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which occurs when contaminated water carrying the brain-consuming amoeba enters through the nasal passage.

What Is A Brain-Eating Amoeba?

There are several different species of Naegleria but only the fowleri species causes PAM. It was first discovered in Australia. Like all amoebas, Naegleria reproduces by cell division and if the conditions are unfavourable, the amoebas become inactive cysts. And when the conditions are favourable, the cysts turn into trophozoites the feeding mode of the amoeba.

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Where Are Brain-Eating Amoebas Found?

Naegleria usually survives well in warm water as hot as 115 degrees F. These amoebas are found in warm regions across the globe. N.fowleri is found in:

• Warm lakes, ponds, and rock formation
• Mud puddles
• Hot, slow-flowing river
• Untreated swimming pools and spas
• Untreated well water or municipal tank
• Several geothermal sources like hot springs 
• Thermally polluted water from power plants
• Aquatic parks
• Soil, including indoor dust
• Water parks 

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Naegleria cannot survive in properly treated well, municipal water, swimming pools or salt water.

What Are The Initial Symptoms Of PAM?

Generally, the signs and symptoms of PAM are not very specific to this condition. Initially, PAM may look like viral meningitis and symptoms include:

• Headache
• Fever
• Stiff neck
• Poor appetite
• Vomiting
• Disturbed mental state
• Seizures
• Coma

The patient may also exhibit hallucinations, drooping eyelids, blurred vision and loss of smell and taste.

How Long Does It Takes For Symptoms To Appear?

It usually takes two to 15 days for symptoms to develop after N.fowleri amoebas enter the nose. Patients may die 3 to 7 days after symptoms show and the average time to death is 5.3 days from onset of symptom. Only a few patients across the globe have been reported to have survived this fatal infection.

How Do People Get Infected?

Though the term” brain-eating amoeba “makes the amoeba sound like a small zombie attacking your skull, brains are accidental food for them. As per the CDC, N.fowleri usually eats bacteria and when the amoebas happen to enter humans, it then uses the brain as a food source. 

The amoeba enters via the nose, so infection mostly develops from diving or doing any water sports. However, infections have also occurred in those who cleaned their nostrils with neti pots filled with untreated water or those who submerged their heads in hot springs.

Remember this fatal infection cannot be spread from an infected to another person.

How Frequently Do People Get Infected?

Though N. fowleri infections are relatively common, they rarely cause brain disease. Some studies have revealed that most people may develop antibodies to N.fowleri, which suggests that they became infected with the amoeba but their immune system combats it.

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Diagnosis

This condition is difficult to diagnose and if your healthcare provider suspects PAM, then they will use specific lab works that look for samples of the amoeba in the cerebrospinal fluid, biopsy, or tissue specimens.

How Is Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection Treated?

Anti-fungal injection is the treatment mode for PAM or infection with a brain-eating amoeba. A few survivors in America were treated with a combination of drugs by their physicians. However, it was observed that only two children recovered completely, and the healthcare providers got the best results from prompt diagnosis and treatment with suggested drugs. Further, the treatment also comprises cooling the body to below-normal temperature to cure brain swelling.

Can We Check The Presence of Brain-Eating Amoeba By Testing Water Samples?

Yes, water samples are collected from a lake or pool, concentrate, and cultured in a lab. The samples are then subjected to specific laboratory analysis to determine the amoeba.

Who Are At Risk Of PAM?

Children aged 13 or younger and adult men are reported to have been affected by this deadly condition. It may be because people among these age categories involve in more sports activities that exposés them to the amoeba.

Prevention

Following some of these effective strategies to avert infection from brain-eating amoeba when you:

Refrain from swimming, wading or doing any water sports in warm freshwater, particularly still waters, without nose plugs. 

Do not use tap water for the neti pot or any other devices to clean nasal passages. It is recommended to use only distilled or sterilized water.

Make use of filers labelled ‘NSF 53,’ ‘NSF 58,’ or ‘absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller’ to discard germs from the water. 

Chlorine bleach liquid or tablets are different for drinking and cleaning your nose purpose, so buy specific products that are made for your needs.

If you develop a fever or headaches after being in warm freshwater, consult your doctor immediately.