What is Naegleria fowleri, the brain-eating amoeba that killed five-year-old in India?
Contaminated water
A five-year-old girl in Malappuram district of Kerala lost her life as she was afflicted by amoebic meningoencephalitis, which is a rare brain infection, official sources said on Tuesday (May 21). The brain infection was caused by a free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, found in contaminated waters. This is a rare but severe brain infection.
Official sources said that the girl hailed from Moonniyur panchayat. She was undergoing treatment for over a week at the Kozhikode Medical College's Institute of Maternal and Child Health. She was on a ventilator but succumbed on Monday night as she was unresponsive to medication.
The medical experts said that the infection is caused when free-living, non-parasitic amoebae bacteria enter the body through the nose from contaminated water.
Citing sources, news agency PTI reported that the girl had taken a bath in a nearby pond on May 1 and by May 10. After that, she showed symptoms of fever, headache and vomiting.
Other kids who also took a bath along with the girl in the same pond were under observation. The sources added that they were later discharged after being found to be free of infection.
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What is Naegleria fowleri?
A report by Healthy Children revealed that Naegleria fowleri is a type of amoeba that is usually found in warm freshwater and moist soil. It likes heat, thus it is most commonly found in the water during the summer.
However, Naegleria fowleri can also be found in the silt at the bottom of freshwater bodies in considerably lower temperatures.
The report added that Naegleria fowleri can also grow in hot water heaters, pipes and water systems. This includes systems that are treated for public drinking. It hasn't been found in salt water.
Watch this report:
How can Naegleria fowleri infect people?
Naegleria fowleri infections can occur when water containing the amoeba enters your nose. It can then migrate up the nasal cavity and into the brain. Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) can result from this infection. A PAM infection is nearly always fatal since it destroys brain tissue quickly.
(With inputs from agencies)