Brain-eating amoeba kills 9-year-old in Kerala: How it enters the human body, symptoms, treatment, and precautions

A nine-year-old girl in Kerala’s Kozhikode district died of amoebic encephalitis, a rare brain infection, spread through brain-eating amoeba. The girl was admitted to a hospital with fever on August 13 and was later shifted to Kozhikode medical college on August 14 after her condition worsened. She died the same day. A test conducted at the microbiology lab of Kozhikode medical college confirmed the presence of amoebic encephalitis. The infection is caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated water.

Amoeba usually spreads from ponds, lakes

Health officials have started tracing the source of the infection. “Once the water body is identified, we will look for those who may have bathed in it recently,” the official said. The pathogen is usually contracted from freshwater sources such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. According to health officials, this is probably the fourth case of amoebic encephalitis reported in Kozhikode district this year. They added that the infection is rare but often fatal once contracted.

What is amoebic encephalitis, how does it enters human body?

Amoebic encephalitis is a rare and serious brain infection caused by a free-living amoeba found in freshwater sources such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. The amoeba enters the body through the nose when a person comes in contact with contaminated water and travels to the brain, causing infection.

Is amoebic encephalitis contagious?

No, the infection does not spread from one person to another. It is only contracted from contaminated water.

Brain-eating amoeba symptoms?

The early symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. As the infection progresses, it can cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, seizures, and coma. The illness develops quickly and can be fatal.

Brain Eating Amoeba: Who is at risk?

People who swim, bathe, or dive in contaminated freshwater sources are at risk. Children are considered more vulnerable as they are more likely to spend time in ponds or lakes. Cases are very rare, but once contracted, the infection is difficult to treat and often fatal. Kerala has reported a few isolated cases this year.

Brain Eating Amoeba: How to stay safe?

• Avoid swimming or bathing in stagnant or unclean freshwater bodies.
• Use clean, treated, or chlorinated water for recreational purposes.
• Prevent water from entering the nose while swimming or bathing in natural water bodies.
• Seek immediate medical attention if sudden fever and neurological symptoms appear after freshwater exposure.

Brain Eating Amoeba Treatment?

There is no guaranteed cure, but doctors use a combination of antifungal and antimicrobial drugs. Early detection and treatment improve chances of survival, though the infection remains highly dangerous.