A nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery in Kerala’s Kozhikode district has died from a brain infection which is caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly called the “brain-eating amoeba.” Though rare, this brain infection is often fatal. The news of the girl’s untimely due to “brain-eating amoeba” was confirmed by health authorities on Saturday, two days after the child passed away.The girl was admitted to a local hospital on August 13 with fever. However, as her condition deteriorated rapidly, she was shifted to Kozhikode Government Medical College on August 14, where she died the same day. Tests later confirmed that she had contracted primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a disease caused by Naegleria fowleri.Officials said this was the fourth reported case of the infection in the district this year. Apart from the nine-year-old, a three-month-old baby and another person are also currently undergoing treatment for the same illness. “We are still trying to trace the exact source of infection, including the possibility of contaminated ponds or lakes,” a senior health officer said, as per reports.
What is the brain-eating amoeba? How does one get infected?
Naegleria fowleri (N.fowleri) is a free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater and soil. It enters the body through the nose, usually when a person swims or bathes in contaminated water body like lakes, ponds, etc. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk factors for brain-eating amoeba infection includes:“Fresh water exposureMost Naegleria infections occur after people swim or submerge their heads underwater. However, PAM may also occur when people use contaminated tap water to – Cleanse their noses during religious practices– Irrigate their sinuses (send water up the nose)”Once inside the nose, N.fowleri travels to the brain through the olfactory nerve, destroying brain tissue and causing swelling.
However, one needs to know that “People cannot get infected with N. fowleri from drinking water contaminated with the ameba. People also do not spread the ameba or PAM to others,” as per the CDC.
Brain-eating amoeba signs and symptoms
Symptoms of brain-eating amoeba typically appear within three to seven days and they include: Fever, headache, vomiting, hallucinations, confusion, seizures, and changes in smell or taste. Since these symptoms aren’t specific to the disease, it progresses rapidly. “Death usually occurs within 5 days (range 1 to 18 days) of the start of symptoms,” as per CDC.Independent reported that the fatality rate for PAM is nearly 97 per cent worldwide. In India, the first case of brain-eating amoeba was reported in 1971, but cases remained rare until recently. Since 2023, Kerala has seen a sudden surge in brain-eating amoeba infections. From 2016 to 2022, the state recorded only eight cases. In 2023 alone, however, 36 infections and nine deaths were reported.Every known case in India until last year had ended in death. In July 2024, a 14-year-old boy from Kozhikode became the first patient in the country to survive the infection, joining just 10 other known survivors worldwide.
Rising cases in Kerala
Public health experts say the rise in reported cases is linked to increased testing for acute encephalitis syndrome, as well as environmental factors such as pollution and climate change. Kerala’s health department has introduced special treatment protocols and operating procedures for suspected cases. To stay safe from this disease, the authorities have advised that one should avoid swimming in stagnant warm freshwater, especially after heavy rainfall as it could put you at risk. While cleaning the nose or for nasal irrigation, one should use clean, filtered, or sterilised water. Authorities continue to investigate the possible water source linked to the Thamarassery case in Kerala, while urging the public to remain cautious about water-related activities during the monsoon season.With inputs from PTI