TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” has garnered attention due to its lethal nature.
EXPLANATION:
What is Naegleria fowleri?
- Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled organism found in warm fresh water and soil globally.
- It thrives in high temperatures up to 115°F (46°C) and can survive briefly in warm environments.
- Typical habitats include:
- Warm freshwater bodies (lakes, rivers)
- Geothermal water sources (hot springs)
- Poorly maintained swimming pools
- Splash pads and surf parks with insufficient chlorination
- This free-living amoeba causes a rare but fatal brain infection known as Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM).
- The recent death of a five-year-old girl in Kerala has once again highlighted the dangers posed by this microorganism.
- Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose.
- This typically happens during swimming or other water activities.
- Once inside the nasal passages, Naegleria fowleri migrates to the brain via the olfactory nerve, where it begins to destroy brain tissue, causing inflammation and swelling.
- Key Points of Infection:
- Entry Point: Through the nose, not through drinking contaminated water.
- Non-Communicable: The infection does not spread from person to person.
- Recent Case: The girl in Kozhikode likely contracted the infection while swimming in a local river, though other children who swam with her did not get infected.
Symptoms of Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)
- The symptoms of PAM progress rapidly and are severe:
- Initial Stage:
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Advanced Stage:
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Coma
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most patients with PAM succumb to the disease within 1 to 18 days after symptoms begin, often leading to death within five days.
- Initial Stage:
Treatment of Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis
- Currently, there is no guaranteed effective treatment for PAM.
- However, a combination of drugs is used in an attempt to manage the infection:
- Amphotericin B
- Azithromycin
- Fluconazole
- Rifampin
- Miltefosine
- Dexamethasone
- Despite these efforts, the fatality rate remains extremely high due to the rapid progression and severity of the disease.
Incidence of PAM in India
- PAM remains rare, with only 20 reported cases in India to date.
- Kerala has reported seven of these cases, including the recent incident in Kozhikode.
- July 2023: A 15-year-old boy in Alappuzha died from PAM.
- 2016: The first reported case in Kerala occurred in Alappuzha.
- The prevalence of water bodies in Kerala contributes to the occurrence of these infections.
- Cases have also been reported in Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Thrissur.