Brain Eating Amoeba – Total Cases, Symptoms, Survivors, Treatment

Brain Eating Amoeba Symptoms and Treatment: Amid rising cases of corona virus in many countries of the world including China, Japan, a case of death of a person due to brain-eating amoeba has come to light in South Korea. According to the news published in The Korea Times, in December 2022, a 50-year-old man died after he got infected with Naegleria fowleri. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has also confirmed amoeba infection in humans.

In this page we will apprise you of symptoms of the rare brain-eating amoeba infection. So read this page to know more about Brain Eating Amoeba – Total Cases, Symptoms, Survivors, Treatment. After the case of Brain Eating Amoeba came to light in South Korea amid Corona, questions started to arise that what is brain-eating amoeba after all and what are its symptoms, so in this page we have shared everything.

What is Naegleria fowleri?

The first case of Naegleria fowleri was reported in the US in 1937 and now this is the first case of this infection in South Korea. Naegleria fowleri is a type of amoeba, so it is also called brain eating amoeba. It is mostly found in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, canals or ponds.

Naegleria fowleri amoeba reaches the brain via nose and starts eating the tissues. That’s why its infection is fatal. This amoeba rapidly changes its form. Significantly, till 2021, a total of 154 cases of this infection have been reported in the world, in which America, India and Thailand were also included.

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Brain Eating Amoeba- Symptoms

Its symptoms can appear inside a person infected with amoeba within 1 to 2 days. Initially, the symptoms of the rare brain-eating amoeba infection look like meningitis. It shows symptoms like headache, vomiting and fever and if the infection is severe, then there may be stiffness in the neck, seizures. Apart from this, the patient can also go into coma. Here we will know what the symptoms of Brain Eating Amoeba are:

  • Severe frontal headache
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stiff neck
  • Seizures
  • Altered mental status.
  • Hallucinations
  • Coma
Brain Eating Amoeba - Total Cases, Symptoms, Survivors, Treatment

Prevention from Naegleria fowleri

If we talk about its prevention, doctors mix several medicines together and give them to the infected person, but the chances of survival are very less. So, it is better to avoid swimming or using public water where this infection has spread.

  • Always drink clean and clear water
  • Avoid getting water in your nose or mouth while bathing or swimming.
  • Avoid bathing in stagnant water.
  • Clean the pond or swimming pool regularly.

Is Naegleria fowleri an Infectious Disease?

Naegleria fowleri/Brain Eating Amoeba has not yet been observed to spread from one person to another. Also, no such evidence is here, which proves that a person infected with this infection can infect another person as well. Naegleria fowleri reaches the human body through the nose and from here it reaches the brain. Such cases especially come when a person does swimming, spends time in water or takes a dip.

In some cases, it has also come to the notice that it reaches the body even while cleaning the nose with contaminated water. After infection, this amoeba reaches the brain and works to damage parts of the brain. From here the condition of the patient deteriorates so much that it becomes difficult to save.

Where do Brain Eating Amoeba Grow?

According to the CDC, the brain-eating amoeba thrives mainly in fresh water and soil. Amoeba is very minute compared to any other small animal, it can be seen only with a microscope. If we look at the statistics of patients infected with amoeba, it is known that only 1 out of 10 people who get infected by it survives.

The Brain Eating Amoeba thrives in these places:

  • Warm fresh water, such as lakes and rivers
  • Naturally hot water
  • In hot water from industrial or power plants
  • Untreated geothermal (naturally heated) drinking water source
  • Swimming pools, splash pads, surf parks that haven’t used enough chlorine.
  • Tap water

Brain Eating Amoeba – Treatment

It has been seen that if the infection spreads rapidly, then on an average the patient dies within 12 days. From 1962 to 2021, 154 cases were reported in US and out of this only 4 patients could survive. It is a rare infection and till now no Brain Eating Amoeba – Treatment has been found for it.

However, with the help of some mixtures of medicines, efforts are made to improve the patient’s condition. According to CDC, due to climate change, the temperature of the world is increasing. The effect of temperature is also visible in water. Naegleria fowleri or Brain Eating Amoeba is found especially in clean and warm water. 

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