Amoebic Meningoencephalitis

29 Oct 2024 15:07:05 pm

Tags : Amoebic Meningoencephalitis

Topic: Diseases

Why in the news?

A 38-year-old man from Kasaragod district of Kerala died from suspected amoebic meningoencephalitis while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kannur.

Source: The Hindu

About Amoebic Meningoencephalitis:

It is caused by Naegleria fowleri.
- It is a free-living amoebae in warm, stagnant freshwater.
- It is also known as the “brain-eating amoeba”.
- It infects the brain through the nasal passages, leading to severe brain tissue destruction.
This disease has a high mortality rate (>97%).
Children are particularly vulnerable, though PAM does not spread from person to person or through swallowing contaminated water.
Its symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
Early diagnosis and timely initiation of an antimicrobial cocktail are crucial. The optimal drug regimen is still uncertain, and treatment involves a multidisciplinary team.
Its preventive measures include avoiding exposure to stagnant freshwater, using nose plugs, and ensuring proper chlorination and maintenance of swimming pools to prevent PAM.

Amoeba:

It is a type of cell or unicellular organism with the ability to alter its shape, primarily by extending and retracting pseudopods. It does not form a single taxonomic group; instead, it is found in every major lineage of eukaryotic organisms.

0 Comments

★ ★ ★ ★ ★