NAEGLERIA FLOWERI

Naegleria fowleri typically enters the body through the nose, often when individuals are swimming. It then moves to the brain, where it damages brain tissue and causes swelling.

In a recent case in Kozhikode, it is suspected that a girl contracted the infection while swimming in a local river on May 1, along with four other children who did not develop symptoms and tested negative. It is important to note that Naegleria fowleri infection cannot occur from drinking contaminated water, and primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is not contagious

4. Symptoms and Treatment

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare and often fatal brain infection caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri. The symptoms of PAM typically appear within one to nine days after exposure, with an average onset of about five days. The symptoms progress rapidly and can be divided into early and later stages:

Early Symptoms

Early symptoms often resemble those of bacterial meningitis and may include:

• Severe frontal headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Later Symptoms

As the infection progresses, more severe symptoms can develop, such as:

• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Lack of attention to people and surroundings
• Loss of balance
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Altered mental status
• Sensitivity to light