By Rajni Pandey | July 5, 2024
A 14-year-old boy from Kozhikode, Kerala, succumbed to amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, also known as the 'brain-eating' amoeba.
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This is the third fatality in Kerala due to this infection in recent months, following the deaths of a five-year-old girl from Malappuram on May 21 and a 13-year-old girl from Kannur on June 25.
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Naegleria fowleri, also known as "brain-eating ameba," thrives in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs, and can infect and destroy brain tissue.
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This infections typically occur when contaminated water enters the nose, often during activities like swimming or diving in warm freshwater bodies.
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Early symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, and seizures. As the infection progresses, symptoms can escalate to stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations.
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Brain infections caused by Naegleria fowleri are extremely rare but nearly always fatal, highlighting the severity and urgency of the condition.
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Health authorities advise caution when swimming in warm freshwater bodies. Avoid allowing water to enter the nose and use nose clips during activities that may force water up the nasal passages.
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The disease has been previously reported in Kerala's coastal Alappuzha district in 2023 and 2017, indicating an ongoing risk in the region.
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