Symptoms Of Amoebic Meningoencephalitis

The symptoms of amoebic meningoencephalitis are quite similar to bacterial meningitis. The symptoms of amoebic meningoencephalitis are observed about 5-7 days after exposure to Naegleria fowleri. Most people die within 1-12 days after the symptoms of amoebic meningoencephalitis begin to appear. PAM is extremely difficult to detect as the infection spreads very rapidly and in most cases, the diagnosis is made after the death of the patient. Death is almost certain in all the cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis. 

There are two stages of symptoms exhibited by people suffering from amoebic meningoencephalitis. These are listed below:

• Stage 1: The stage 1 of amoebic meningoencephalitis is characterized by severe and persistent frontal headache, nausea, fever, sleepiness, and vomiting.

• Stage 2: The stage 2 of amoebic meningoencephalitis is characterized by a stiffness of neck, seizures, hallucinations, altered mental alertness, and coma.

Risk factors for Amoebic Meningoencephalitis

Although amoebic meningoencephalitis is a fatal disease, the chances of its occurrence are extremely rare. In the past 10 years, only 32 cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis have been reported in the United States. These figures explain the rarity of its occurrence despite the fact that there are millions of exposures to recreational waters.

People who indulge in recreational water activities should be aware of a certain level of risk associated with exposure to Naegleria fowleri. However, it is important to note that the occurrence of Naegleria fowleri is quite common but chances of infection are extremely rare. The number of cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis is quite low even though there are millions of people who use the same or similar water throughout the United States.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Amoebic Meningoencephalitis

Amoebic meningoencephalitis is typically diagnosed by performing specific laboratory tests. Laboratory tests are performed to detect the presence of Naegleria fowleri organisms, Naegleria fowleri nucleic acid, and Naegleria fowleri antigens in the cerebrospinal fluid, tissue specimens, and biopsy. Some test methods adopted for examining the presence of Naegleria fowleri include direct visualization, polymerase chain reaction, immune-histochemistry, and amoeba culture.

Till date, only two cases of survival have been reported for amoebic meningoencephalitis in the US. The medications administered to these patients included Amphotericin B, Rifampicin, Dexamethasone, Ceftriaxone, and Phenytoin. Miltefosine has also been found to be effective in killing Naegleria fowleri in the laboratory.

Read More: Brain-Eating Amoeba Due To Stagnant Water, CDC Says

Certain steps that can be taken to lower the risk of infection from Naegleria fowleri are listed below:

• Try to avoid lowering your head under water when indulging in water activities in hot springs and other untreated water bodies.

• Use nose clips and keep your head above water when swimming in warm fresh waters.

• For rinsing your sinuses and for nasal rinsing and ablution rituals, always use chlorine bleach.