Amoebic encephalitis is a rare but fatal central nervous system infection caused by free-living amoebae, Naegleria fowleri amoeba, also known as brain-eating amoeba, found in freshwater, lakes, and rivers. Exposure to contaminated water is a major reason for infection from a brain-eating amoeba that has claimed the lives of two young children within a month in Kerala, said doctors calling for avoiding swimming in lakes and other water bodies. Amoebic encephalitis is a rare but fatal central nervous system infection caused by free-living amoebae, Naegleria fowleri amoeba, also known as brain-eating amoeba, found in freshwater, lakes, and rivers.
A week earlier, the infection Amoebic encephalitis, caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, claimed the life of Dakshina, a 13-year-old girl from Kannur. Earlier in May, a five-year-old girl also from Kannur succumbed to the infection. Another 12-year-old boy from Kozhikode has been suspected of the disease after showing symptoms of an amoebic infection.
While two cases follow within days of a swim in a lake, in Dakshina's case, it reportedly took several months to manifest. "Amoebic encephalitis, caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, typically starts one to 9 days after exposure to contaminated water. This infection enters through the nasal cavity and advances rapidly, potentially becoming fatal within days," Dr.
Arjun Srivatsa, Director & HOD - Institute of Neurosciences, Sakra World Hospital, told IANS. Symptoms commonly include s.
)
