Kerala's freshwater and backwater bodies can be tempting to dive in and children love to swim in these lakes, ponds and rivers during their holidays. However, a deadly infection has been spreading serious concern among Malayalis of late after three children, aged five, 13 and 14 years of age respectively, lost their lives. The kids contracted an infection called Naegleria fowleri aka primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which spreads quickly.
The disease is caused by a free-living amoeba, a tiny organism, which lives in warm freshwater bodies. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it enters the human body through the nose or a damaged eardrum and can travel to the brain, causing deadly infection within a short time. It is not visible to the naked eye; you can only see it under a microscope.
Therefore, it is also very difficult to locate. Here are a few things you should know: Does it affect adults? The disease mostly affects children, however, adults are not immune to it. Therefore, those who are forced to swim in such waterbodies should take precautions like nose and ear clips or at least hold their nose shut while in water.
Signs and symptoms of the infection According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms of Naegleria fowleri can start about five days after exposure to contaminated water. However, they may surface anywhere between the first and 12th day. The early symptoms can include 1) Fever 2) Headache 3) Vomiting 4) Nausea The additional sy.