Kasaragod: Youth dies from suspected ‘brain-eating’ Amoeba infection

Team Udayavani, Sep 24, 2024, 8:54 AM IST

Kasaragod: A 38-year-old man from Chattanchal, Kasaragod, has died due to suspected primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

The deceased, identified as M. Manikandan, passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kannur on Sunday evening, September 22, 2024.

PAM is a rare brain infection caused by the “brain-eating” amoeba Naegleria fowleri.

According to reports, Manikandan had been working in Mumbai and returned to his hometown after falling ill with fever. Initially, he sought treatment at the Government General Hospital in Kasaragod. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to the hospital in Kannur, where he was diagnosed with suspected amoebic meningoencephalitis.

A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test conducted by the Kerala Health Department raised suspicions of the infection, but further confirmation is awaited pending results from an amoebic PCR test.

Amoebic meningoencephalitis shares similar symptoms with other brain infections such as viral encephalitis and bacterial meningitis. The early symptoms include headaches, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Without timely treatment, the infection can lead to a coma and eventual death within days.

Manikandan’s death is the latest in a series of fatal cases linked to the rare infection. In the last five months, Kerala has reported 19 confirmed cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis, with five deaths. The infection is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a single-celled organism found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes, ponds, and rivers.

The infection has also affected other individuals in Kerala. Earlier, a 14-year-old boy from Thikkodi in Kallikote contracted the infection in July but is now recovering. However, three other children from various parts of Kerala — E.P. Mridul (12), V. Dakshina (13), and Fadwa (5) — have succumbed to the disease.

The amoeba thrives in stagnant and warm freshwater sources and can survive in poorly maintained swimming pools. Currently, there is no standard treatment for this infection, making it highly dangerous and often fatal.