Brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri
Source : Indian Express
GS III : Science and Technology
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Brain-eating amoeba
Why in News ?
A 15-year-old boy in Kerala’s Alappuzha district has died due to a rare infection caused by Naegleria fowleri or “brain-eating amoeba” after a week of high fever and rapid deterioration in his vitals.
News in Brief
- The amoeba most likely came from his taking a bath in a nearby stream.
- It is known to flourish in any natural setting, but especially in warm water environments.
- It isn’t found in sea water since it can’t thrive in salty environments.
- It feeds on bacteria found in the silt of rivers and lakes to live.
About Brain-eating amoeba
- Naegleria fowleri is a single-cell creature commonly referred to as “brain-eating amoeba.”
Source : Wikimedia Common - It may be discovered in warm freshwater environments like lakes, hot springs, and even unkempt swimming pools.
- It was first found in Australia in 1965, and due to its tiny size, it can only be seen under a microscope.
- Naegleria fowleri is the only species of Naegleria that can infect humans.
- According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PAM’s initial symptoms appear one to twelve days after infection.
- They may first resemble the meningitis-related symptoms of headache, nausea, and fever.
- In the latter stages, one may have seizures, hallucinations, a stiff neck, and possibly a coma.
- Naegleria fowleri normally eat bacteria, but during human infections, the trophozoites consume astrocytes and neurons.
Human Infection and survival rate
- Through the nose, the amoeba enters the human body and moves up to the brain.
- This frequently occurs when a person swims, dives, or even just dips their head into a freshwater body of water.
- Impact: It destroys brain tissues and causes a dangerous infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
- Survival Rate: The chances of survival from this infection are unfortunately low upto 97%.
How can Brain-eating amoeba treated?
- Combination of drugs, often including amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine, and dexamethasone according to US-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Daily Current Affairs : Click Here