Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Reason Behind Kerala Teen's Death?

A rare brain-eating amoeba, also called Naegleria fowleri, caused the death of a school-going fifteen-year boy in the Alappuzha district of Kerala.

The teenager died following a week-long serious infection. The infection was probably caused when Gurudath went to take a swim at a nearby brook. 

Kerala Teen Dies Of Brain-Eating Amoeba 

The teen was admitted to the hospital last Sunday and passed away this Friday, as per the reports by his parents and family. The existence of this rare brain-eating single-celled organism was also reported back in 2017 in Alappuzha.

Later in 2019 and 2022, too, two cases were reported in Kozhikode and Thrissur, respectively. The two patients infected by this disease had passed away. In February 2020, a US resident who completed his 11-day trip to India also died of Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis.  

What is Naegleria Fowleri, and where is it found?

Naegleria fowleri is a tiny single-celled organism that inhabits natural water bodies, like freshwater or contaminated water bodies and soil and is prone to more heat. However, it cannot infect a person with drinking water. It's believed that it mainly enters the body through the nostrils.

This amoeba doesn't eat your brain, despite what its name suggests. But, still, a Naegleria infection results in severe swelling and brain damage, which causes death. Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) is the medical term for the illness.

Symptoms

Some of the initial and immediate symptoms that can be seen after about 24 hours of exposure to the Naegleria are fever, severe headache, nausea or vomiting. The symptoms go on, changing with high intensity as it progresses. The symptoms seen in the later phases are confusion, stiff neck, hallucinations, lack of attention, seizures, and light sensitivity. 

Prevention

Though the infection is rarely found and happens in the rarest of the rare cases, it's important to be aware of such incidents in order o take proper prevention before entering a water body, especially in the monsoons. Avoid swimming in natural freshwater bodies, especially in warm weather; it's always safe to swim and relax in disinfected pools.

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