Naegleria Fowleri, popularly known as the “abrain-eating mebaIt is a single-celled living organism that thrives in warm freshwater environments, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs.
This amoeba has gained notoriety for its potential to cause a deadly brain infection, as they explain the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On July 28, the US State Department of Public Health reported the death of a resident from Naegleria fowleri infection.
Just a few days earlier, on July 20, the state of Nevada reported the death of another young man from the same amoeba. These deaths have generated concern and have put health authorities on high alert.
How Naegleria fowleri infects the brain
Naegleria fowleri infects people when contaminated water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose..
Common scenarios include swimming, diving, or submerge head in freshwater springs like lakes and rivers. Infections can also occur through nasal exposure to contaminated tap water.
Entering through the nose, the amoeba migrates to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue and causes an infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Unfortunately, PAM is often fatal, with a mortality rate greater than 97%, according to reports from the United States health authorities.
Recognize the symptoms of the “brain-eating” amoeba
The symptoms of a Naegleria fowleri infection are similar to those of bacterial meningitis and usually appear about five days after infection.
Early symptoms may include headaches, fever, nausea or vomiting. As the infection progresses, more serious symptoms emerge, including a stiff neck, confusion, inattention, seizures, hallucinations, and coma.
Due to the rapid progression and rarity of the infection, it is difficult to identify effective treatments. Some drugs show promise, but research is ongoing to better understand and fight the disease.
Prevention of Naegleria fowleri infection
The CDC provides guidelines to minimize the risk of infection:
1.- Avoid submerging your head when swimming or diving in bodies of warm fresh water.
2.- Keep your head out of the water in designated swimming areas.
3.- Refrain from immersing your head in hot springs or untreated geothermal waters.
4.- Avoid disturbing the sediments in warm and shallow freshwater areas.
As a thermophilic organism, Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm waters and soils worldwide. The amoeba can be found in various environments, including lakes, rivers, hot springs, swimming pools with inadequate chlorine levels, tap water, and sediment at the bottom of bodies of water.
Climate change may play a role in the potential increase in Naegleria fowleri infections.
Increased air temperatures can cause elevated water temperatures in lakes and ponds, creating more favorable conditions for the amoeba to thrive. Heat waves, in particular, can contribute to amoeba proliferation.
Despite the alarming effects, it is essential to note that the risk of Naegleria fowleri infection remains very low. According to CDC estimates, between 2013 and 2022, only 29 infections in the United Statesdespite millions of recreational water exposures each year.
Keep reading:
· 2-year-old baby dies in Nevada by “brain-eating” amoeba
The CDC confirmed that a brain-eating amoeba caused the death of a child in Nebraska
Florida man died of contracting “brain-eating” amoeba apparently from washing his nose with tap water
