If there’s one thing no one wants to hear, it’s the news of a “brain-eating” amoeba that can infect and kill.
Unfortunately, in recent years, reports of deaths from naegleria fowleri – an amoeba that causes brain disease – became more frequent.
This is the kind of news that might make you worried, but knowing the facts about this disease helps. Read on to learn more.
1. How does the “brain-eating” amoeba infect people?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the amoeba – known as naegleria fowleri or N. fowleri – is found mainly in warm fresh water and on land.
It infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. Important: You cannot be infected by drinking contaminated water or coming into contact with contaminated water with your skin.
2. So I can’t swim without worrying?
THE N. fowleripopularly known as the brain-eating amoeba, can be found in cool, warm water such as springs and lakes during the summer.
If you want to be super careful, maybe you should choose environments with salt water, which would mean going out to sea. But the CDC notes that it is difficult to predict where an infection might occur.
“The reason why certain people are infected with N. fowleri while millions of others who are exposed to hot water in recreational settings are not infected is unknown, including those that they were swimming with people who were infected.”
3. Are many people infected with the brain-eating amoeba?
The CDC still considers primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (MAP) a rare disease. A total of 133 infections were reported between 1962 and 2014.
It is common for infected people to have participated in water-related activities – such as swimming underwater, diving, and submerging their heads in water – which may have caused water to enter the nose. If any of these activities make you feel at risk, it’s best to avoid them.
4. What are the symptoms that you have been infected?
In the early stage of the infection, a person may have a fever, nausea, and vomiting, as well as a severe frontal headache. As the disease progresses, the victim may experience neck stiffness, hallucinations, seizures, altered mental status and fall into a coma.
5. Is there a cure for the brain-eating amoeba?
Not yet. Due to the relatively low incidence of the disease (0 to 8 infections per year), researchers have yet to understand why so many people who swim in warm water are not infected. Although four people survived, the infection is almost always fatal.
Source: CNN Brasil
