Kozhikode: A 12 year old boy is suffering from this Amebic meningoencephalitisa rare brain Infection The disease is caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated water in Kozhikode district of Kerala. KeralaAccording to sources at the private hospital where he is undergoing treatment, this is the third case of the near-fatal infection in the southern state since May.
The first death was of a five-year-old girl from Malappuram, who died on May 21, and the second death was of a 13-year-old girl from Kannur, who died on June 25.
The third case is of a 12-year-old boy from Kozhikode, who was admitted to Baby Memorial Hospital here on Monday.
One of the doctors treating him said the infection was detected and treatment was started the same day.
“We identified the infection in tests conducted in our laboratory and informed the DMO, who took preventive measures by closing access to the pond where the child bathed,” the doctor said.
He said the samples were sent to a laboratory in Puducherry for testing, from where a printed PCR report is awaited for official confirmation of the infection.
“The mortality rate from this disease is 95-100 per cent. The boy’s condition is still critical,” the doctor said.
He said the hospital was able to quickly identify the infection and begin treatment as it was the third case of the disease and protocols to deal with it were already in place.
According to medical experts, this infection occurs when free-living, non-parasitic amoeba bacteria enter the body through the nose. contaminated water,
The health department on Thursday asked people to be cautious against amoebic meningoencephalitis.
“Bathing and diving in stagnant water should be avoided as much as possible, as cases of the disease have been reported in Kerala. Water in theme parks and swimming pools should be properly chlorinated to ensure it remains clean,” it said.
The disease was earlier reported in the state’s coastal Alappuzha district in 2023 and 2017.
The main symptoms of this disease are fever, headache, vomiting and seizures.
12-year-old-boy-from-kozhikode-infected-by-brain-eating-amoeba-third-case-in-kerala-et-healthworld
