Brain-Eating Amoeba 03 Sep 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
Brain-Eating Amoeba
• 03 Sep 2025
• 1 min read
• Rapid Fire CA
• Quick Facts For Prelims
• GS Paper - 2
Source: DTE
Kerala has reported several cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection caused by “brain-eating amoeba”.
Brain-Eating Amoeba
• About: PAM is a rare and often fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri amoeba or brain-eating amoeba, found in contaminated warm, freshwater sources like wells and ponds.
• Transmission: Naegleria fowleri enters the body through the nose during swimming or bathing in contaminated freshwater, travels to the brain, causing tissue destruction and swelling. It is not transmitted through drinking water or person-to-person.
• It is not transmitted through drinking water or person-to-person.
• Symptoms: Early symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, progressing to stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. Mortality is extremely high (>95%), with most patients dying within 1–18 days, often within 5 days of onset.
• Mortality is extremely high (>95%), with most patients dying within 1–18 days, often within 5 days of onset.
• Treatment: No effective treatment available, currently combination of drugs including amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, and others are recommended to manage the infection.
Read More: Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
Read More: Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis