Latest news with #N.fowleri
The Hill
29-07-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Brain-eating amoeba: Who is most often infected?
The family of a 12-year-old boy who died in South Carolina this month have confirmed his cause of death to be an infection associated with Naegleria fowleri, more commonly referred to as a ' brain-eating amoeba.' It's believed the boy, identified as Jaysen Carr, contracted the infection while swimming in Lake Murray, a central South Carolina reservoir popular with swimmers, boaters and fishermen, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 'The family has many questions about how and why Jaysen died and wants to do everything in their power to ensure this doesn't happen to another family,' an attorney for Carr's family wrote in a statement shared with Nexstar's WCBD. What is Naegleria fowleri? Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled organism primarily found in warm freshwater and soil, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 'It's very commonly found in nature, in soil or warm freshwater around the world … or in places where the water is warm for other reasons, like a thermal hot spring, or pool water that isn't chlorinated properly,' Dr. Dennis Kyle, a professor of infectious diseases and cellular biology at the University of Georgia and the scholar chair of antiparasitic drug discovery with the Georgia Research Alliance, once explained in an interview with Nexstar. The organisms have also been observed in improperly treated tap water, and, in lower concentrations, even cooler freshwaters. The highest concentrations, though, are generally found in freshwater with surface temperature readings of 75 degrees F or higher, especially for extended periods of time. How do infections occur? Infection of N. fowleri usually occurs after water is forced into the nose, allowing the organism to enter the nasal cavity and cross the epithelial lining into the brain, where it begins destroying the tissue of the frontal lobe, Kyle said. There's an increased risk among those who partake in freshwater activities during the warmer months, he added. 'This time of year is when we typically hear about these cases,' Kyle said of the summertime, in general. 'When people are out doing summer activities in the water, or on the lakes.' The resulting brain infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), can lead to symptoms including fever, headaches, stiff neck, seizures and hallucinations within two weeks of exposure. It is almost always fatal, with death occurring 'within about 5 days after symptoms first begin' but potentially up to a few weeks afterward, the CDC says. Can it be treated? Treatment of Naegleria fowleri infection consists of antifungal and antibiotic cocktails, and doctors have also induced hypothermia in patients to reduce fevers and protect undamaged brain tissue while the treatments are administered. Survival, however, is 'rare,' with a fatality rate estimated at about 97 percent the CDC says. Early detection and treatment can be key to improving chances, but infections may go ignored — or be misdiagnosed — until it's too late. Kyle, in a previous interview with Nexstar, said he was only aware of a handful of cases in which patients have survived, but he was optimistic about the use of collecting cerebral spinal fluid for testing purposes. Prevention (e.g., avoiding warm freshwater bodies of water, wearing nose plugs, keeping your head above water, etc.) is currently the best way to combat infection. Raising awareness of the danger also helps, Kyle said. 'But I think any warm freshwater facility, or hot spring … and at splashpads, you have to look at it carefully,' he told Nexstar. 'It's incumbent on people running these facilities to minimize risk and minimize exposure.' Who is most often infected? Anyone can contract Naegleria fowleri infection, but the CDC has identified 'young boys' as the group infected most often. 'The reasons for this aren't clear. It's possible that young boys are more likely to participate in activities like diving into the water and playing in the sediment at the bottom of lakes and rivers,' the agency said. Is climate change making infections more common? Even the CDC acknowledges that climate change may indeed be 'a contributing factor' to the conditions which allow Naegleria fowleri to thrive. 'Warmer climates means, yes, more exposure and more cases,' Kyle had said, adding that there had been a 'significant increase' in cases in recent years. But he warned that increased cases cannot be linked solely to warmer waters, but rather more awareness and fewer misdiagnoses. 'There's more recognition that these amoeba are possibly causing disease, when before, virologists were misclassifying these cases as bacterial meningitis or [other diseases],' he said.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Brain-eating amoeba outbreaks in the US: The first signs you should never ignore
South Carolina's Prisma Health Children's Hospital has reported its first confirmed case of a fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba. The hospital announced on Tuesday that the infected patient has died. Although infections are extremely rare, understanding how they occur and recognizing the early warning signs is important. What is Naegleria fowleri? Commonly referred to as a brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic, single-celled organism found in warm freshwater environments. Although several species of Naegleria exist, only the fowleri species is known to cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but almost always fatal brain infection. The amoeba poses a risk only when infected water enters the nose. From there, it can travel to the brain and cause PAM. However, drinking water with N. fowleri does not lead to infection. It was first discovered in 1956 and initially identified in Australia. N. fowleri is now known to occur naturally in parts of the U.S., especially in southern states. The organism typically measures between 8 to 15 micrometers and survives by feeding on bacteria. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Under unfavorable conditions, it transforms into a dormant cyst. In warm, nutrient-rich water, it becomes active and potentially dangerous. Where is it found? This organism thrives in warm, freshwater environments, typically in water temperatures up to 115°F. Thus, it can be found in lakes and ponds during summer, warm, slow-moving rivers, mud puddles, hot springs, poorly maintained swimming pools or spas, untreated well or municipal water, and aquariums. Naegleria fowleri cannot survive in saltwater or in properly chlorinated pools and municipal water systems. Although rare, there have been cases where the amoeba was found in tap water, particularly in systems with inadequate treatment or maintenance. Warning signs and symptoms PAM symptoms usually appear within one to 12 days after exposure. Early signs may mimic viral meningitis and include: severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, and loss of appetite. As the infection progresses, more severe neurological symptoms can develop: Confusion or altered mental status Hallucinations Seizures Loss of balance or coordination Coma Drooping eyelids or blurred vision Loss of sense of taste or smell The disease advances quickly. In most cases, it leads to coma and death within five days of the onset of symptoms. Fatalities usually occur within 1 to 18 days. According to the CDC, fewer than 10 cases are reported in the U.S. each year. However, the fatality rate is extremely high — out of 167 cases documented between 1962 and 2024, only four patients survived.
09-06-2025
- Health
What to know about rare brain-eating amoeba after Texas woman dies
A Texas woman has died from a rare brain-eating amoeba after using a sinus rinse with contaminated water, according to a case report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 71-year-old woman -- who was previously healthy -- used tap water at a campground in a nasal irrigation device, and health officials believe this is how she contracted the amoeba, the report states. She developed a brain infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and died eight days after symptoms began, according to the report. Other details about the patient including name, race/ethnicity or town of residence were not provided in the report. Here's what to know about the rare, but often fatal, disease. Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri) is an amoeba, which is an organism so small it can only be seen with a microscope. It lives in soil and freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers and hot springs, according to the CDC. It is rarely found in swimming pools, splash pads and tap water. Most infections with N. fowleri occur when people swim in contaminated water and submerge their heads, causing the amoeba to enter the nose. People cannot be infected if they swallow contaminated water, and they cannot spread the amoeba to others, the federal health agency said. N. fowleri is known as a " brain-eating amoeba" because it can infect the brain, causing a disease known as PAM, according to the CDC. PAM also can occur when people use contaminated tap water to "cleanse their noses during religious practices" or "irrigate their sinuses," the latter of which occurred with the Texas woman in the CDC case report. Symptoms typically begin five days after exposure but can occur anywhere from one to 12 days after infection, according to the CDC. Early symptoms resemble those of bacterial meningitis and can include headache, nausea, vomiting and fever. PAM can progress to more severe symptoms such as neck stiffness, seizures, hallucinations, altered mental state and coma. The disease progresses quickly because a diagnosis is hard to confirm. PAM is almost always fatal, occurring in 97% of cases and, on average, five days after symptoms begin. If PAM is caught early enough, it can be treated with a combination of drugs including antifungal medications, and sometimes antibiotics, the CDC said. Fewer than 10 people in the U.S. every year develop PAM, according to the CDC. Between 1962 and 2023, there have been 164 reported cases of PAM in the U.S. with just four survivors, the federal health agency said.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What to know about rare brain-eating amoeba after Texas woman dies
A Texas woman has died from a rare brain-eating amoeba after using a sinus rinse with contaminated water, according to a case report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 71-year-old woman -- who was previously healthy -- used tap water at a campground in a nasal irrigation device, and health officials believe this is how she contracted the amoeba, the report states. She developed a brain infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and died eight days after symptoms began, according to the report. MORE: Georgia resident dies from rare, brain-eating amoeba, officials say Other details about the patient including name, race/ethnicity or town of residence were not provided in the report. Here's what to know about the rare, but often fatal, disease. Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri) is an amoeba, which is an organism so small it can only be seen with a microscope. It lives in soil and freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers and hot springs, according to the CDC. It is rarely found in swimming pools, splash pads and tap water. Most infections with N. fowleri occur when people swim in contaminated water and submerge their heads, causing the amoeba to enter the nose. People cannot be infected if they swallow contaminated water, and they cannot spread the amoeba to others, the federal health agency said. N. fowleri is known as a "brain-eating amoeba" because it can infect the brain, causing a disease known as PAM, according to the CDC. PAM also can occur when people use contaminated tap water to "cleanse their noses during religious practices" or "irrigate their sinuses," the latter of which occurred with the Texas woman in the CDC case report. MORE: Missouri swimmer dies of rare brain-eating amoeba Symptoms typically begin five days after exposure but can occur anywhere from one to 12 days after infection, according to the CDC. Early symptoms resemble those of bacterial meningitis and can include headache, nausea, vomiting and fever. PAM can progress to more severe symptoms such as neck stiffness, seizures, hallucinations, altered mental state and coma. The disease progresses quickly because a diagnosis is hard to confirm. PAM is almost always fatal, occurring in 97% of cases and, on average, five days after symptoms begin. If PAM is caught early enough, it can be treated with a combination of drugs including antifungal medications, and sometimes antibiotics, the CDC said. Fewer than 10 people in the U.S. every year develop PAM, according to the CDC. Between 1962 and 2023, there have been 164 reported cases of PAM in the U.S. with just four survivors, the federal health agency said.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Texas woman dies due to brain-eating bacteria after using tap water
A 71-year-old woman in Texas died from a deadly brain infection caused by a microscopic amoeba. The amoeba, which came from her tap water, reached her brain after she used the water for a nasal rinse. According to a report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the woman used a nasal irrigation device filled with unboiled tap water, which led to the fatal infection. The CDC report stated that the woman had used water from her RV at a campground. The water was inadequately disinfected and contained Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba. The report noted that the otherwise healthy woman developed seizures and, despite receiving medical treatment, died eight days after the onset of symptoms. Laboratory testing at the CDC confirmed the presence of N. fowleri in the patient's cerebrospinal fluid. Highlighting the importance of water quality, the CDC report stated: 'This case highlights the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards.' Also read: What is Naegleria fowleri, brain-eating amoeba that killed Texas woman in 8 days? Know how to stay safe Following the incident, an epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services concluded that the patient had performed nasal irrigation four days before falling ill. Although the investigation could not determine the exact source of the amoeba—whether from the RV's potable water tank or the municipal water system—it confirmed that the route of exposure was tap water. During the investigation, the CDC collected 12 environmental samples, including the patient's irrigation device, water from the RV's water heater, and water from other sources in the RV. The CDC concluded that no N. fowleri DNA or viable amoebae were detected in any of the environmental samples collected from the campsite or RV water system, despite its confirmed presence in the patient. Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba - a type of one-celled organism - that thrives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It is nicknamed the "brain-eating amoeba" because it can infect the brain and destroy brain tissue. Though infections are rare, they are often fatal.
