Brain-Eating Amoeba:
Know the Deadly Threat & How to Stay
Safe
By Saurabh Shukla
Naegleria
Fowleri
Naegleria fowleri, the
Brain-Eating Amoeba, causes a rare and deadly brain
infection by entering the body through the nose in
warm freshwater.
Threat of
PAM
Primary
amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rapid and
severe brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.
Despite its rarity, the infection is almost always
fatal.
Early
Symptoms of PAM
Initial symptoms appear 1-9
days after exposure and include severe headache,
fever, nausea, and a stiff neck. Early detection is
crucial but challenging.
Advanced
Symptoms
As the
disease progresses, symptoms worsen to include
confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. The
severe infection usually leads to death within five
days.
How
Infection Occurs
Infection occurs when
contaminated water enters the nose, typically during
swimming or diving in warm freshwater. Drinking
contaminated water does not cause
infection.
Prevention
Tips
Avoid
swimming in warm freshwater, use nose clips during
water activities, avoid stirring up sediment, and
ensure pools are properly chlorinated to reduce the
risk of infection.
Treatment
& Awareness
Treatment involves
antifungal and antimicrobial medications, but the
survival rate is low. Increasing public awareness
and ongoing research are crucial to combating this
deadly amoeba.
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