News: The Health department in Kozhikode, Kerala, has issued an alert against primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in the district in view of the reporting of three cases of the infection and a death here in recent days.
About Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)
- It is a rare but lethal central nervous system infection
- Caused by: It is caused by Naegleria fowleri, known as the “brain eating amoeba”.
- It is a free-living amoeba found in warm, fresh water and soil, and infects people when it enters the body through the nose.
- Risk factors: Risk factors for infection include swimming, diving, waterskiing, surfing, and exposure to hot springs.
- Season/region of vulnerability: PAM is more common in warmer regions and generally occurs in the warmer months of spring and summer, possibly due to the increased likelihood of participation in waterborne activities.
- Symptoms: Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
- Testing and diagnosis: PAM is difficult to diagnose because of the rarity of the infection and the non-specific early symptoms.
- Prevention: People should focus on limiting the amount of water going up the nose.
- Treatment and recovery: Several drugs are effective, however, their effectiveness is unclear since almost all infections have been deadly, even when people were treated.
- Cases in India: The first case of PAM in India was reported in 1971, and the first case in Kerala was reported in 2016.
Note:
Amoebic Encephalitis
- There are 2 types of amebic encephalitis –
- Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)
- Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE).
- The initial symptoms of PAM are indistinguishable from bacterial meningitis, while the symptoms of GAE can mimic a brain abscess, encephalitis, or meningitis.
- These infections are almost uniformly fatal.
- The mortality rate is above 90%, despite antimicrobial therapy.
