Brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri is a dangerous infection that affects the brain and can prove fatal in a few days. After the recent death of a girl in Kerala, concern has increased regarding this. Know about the brain eating amoeba.
Brain eating amoeba prevention: Have you ever thought that a microscopic organism present in water while swimming or bathing can even take your life? It sounds strange, but a recent incident in Kerala has deepened this fear in the minds of people. A girl died due to one such dangerous organism "Brain-Eating Amoeba" i.e. Naegleria fowleri.
Let us tell you that in the last few years, many deaths have occurred in Kerala due to brain-eating amoeba. This amoeba is not an ordinary germ. It can be seen only through a microscope and it mostly grows in lukewarm, stagnant or less clean water. Especially if ponds, lakes or swimming pools are not cleaned properly, then this organism grows rapidly.
What is brain eating amoeba?
Dr. Subhash Giri of the Medicine Department at Delhi's RML Hospital explains that brain eating amoeba, called Naegleria fowleri, is a rare but extremely dangerous infection causing organism. It enters the body through the nose and reaches the brain. If this amoeba enters the body through the nose, it can reach the brain directly. And this is where the real destruction begins.
How does infection occur from brain eating amoeba?
Initially, this amoeba climbs up the veins of the nose and reaches the brain. After reaching there, it starts destroying the brain cells. This infection occurs when contaminated water enters the nose. Especially dirty water in swimming pools, ponds or lakes is a risk factor for this.
What are the initial symptoms of brain eating amoeba?
The problem is that in the beginning the symptoms seem very common, like any viral fever. That is why most people take it lightly. But as the disease progresses, the patient may have seizures, faint and the condition becomes very serious. Due to this, the patient starts experiencing symptoms like severe headache, fever, vomiting and stiffness in the neck.
Is treatment of brain eating amoeba possible?
The medical name of this disease is Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Unfortunately, its treatment is very difficult and the mortality rate in all the cases reported so far has been very high. The reason is that after reaching the brain, the amoeba spreads very fast and most of the medicines are not able to reach it effectively. This is the reason that sometimes doctors have very little time left.
How to protect yourself from brain eating amoeba?
- Always be careful if you bathe or swim in rivers, ponds or lakes
- Try not to let water go inside your nose
- Use only clean and chlorinated swimming pools
- Pay attention to any water in your nose and clean it immediately
- Avoid dirty ponds or unchlorinated swimming pools
- Drinking clean water, maintaining hygiene
