A 14-year-old from Kozhikode, Kerala, named EP Mridul, recently died from amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain infection caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated water.
This marked the third such death in Kerala since May, highlighting the serious health risks associated with waterborne infections.
EP Mridul, a Class 7 student at Farook Higher Secondary School in Kozhikode, was admitted to a private hospital after experiencing vomiting and headaches. He was diagnosed with amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain infection.
Prior to falling ill, he had bathed in a pond, prompting authorities to warn the public against using it and urging those who had recently bathed there to monitor their health for symptoms.
This tragic incident follows the deaths of two other children from Malappuram and Kannur districts earlier this year, also due to the same infection.
Amoebic meningoencephalitis is indeed a rare but severe brain infection caused by amoebae, primarily Naegleria fowleri and occasionally Acanthamoeba species.
These amoebae are typically found in warm freshwater environments and soil, and infection usually occurs when contaminated water enters the body through the nose, leading to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
It’s a serious condition with a high fatality rate, making early detection and treatment crucial.
The “brain-eating amoeba,” typically known as Naegleria fowleri, infects people through contaminated freshwater, entering via the nose and then traveling to the brain, where it causes inflammation and feeds on nerve tissue.
This infection is not spread from person to person. Symptoms usually appear 1-9 days after exposure and include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, altered mental status, and hallucinations.
The disease progresses rapidly and can lead to death within 1-12 days after symptoms begin.
It’s caused by free-living amoebae, not parasitic bacteria, entering the body through the nose from contaminated water sources. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical due to its rapid and often fatal course.
