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disease

Brain eating Zombie is in Town Again!!!

By Botts - 11:15 PM

With the death of 3 young kids, now the fatality rate of Naegleria has reached 10. Every year summer comes along with this deadly brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria Fowleri. Most of us don’t actually know this and many people haven’t heard until someone unknowingly come across a sudden death from an unknown disease.
In a third world country where people are still thriving for basic necessities and where getting access to the lifesaving drugs is just a nightmare for the poor. The disastrous effect of Naegleria can easily be gauged. In summers when the prominence of water in our lives increases, the risk of Naegleria is at its peak. Due to water shortage, common men don’t argue, even if gets contaminated water. However, the deadly bacteria cannot effect in case of drinking but it gets access to the brain if enters into the nose.
The next thing which comes into mind is how can we avoid water??  And the answer is you can’t and you don’t have to. The best thing about this fatal bacteria, it doesn’t spread from human to human. So we got so many ways in this sense to be careful and for this, we need to have the proper knowledge. Remember prevention is better than cure, and Naegleria don’t give much time to cure so let’s dig into the details:

What is Naegleria Fowleri?

Naegleria Fowleri enters the body through the nose, travels up to the brain and causes severe damage to the brain tissue results in swelling and death.  Naegleria usually eats amoeba but when enters into the human brain it consumes the human brain as food.
Though a mass number of people are exposed to Naegleria infection, only a few of them ever get sick from it. However, doctors and researchers still couldn’t find any clue why some people get infected and others don’t. Affected people die within a week after being exposed to the amoeba.

Possible areas where Naegleria is found:

Industrial-Discharge
 • It is found in fresh warm water, such as lakes, ponds, rivers.
• Naturally hot water, such as hot springs.
• Warm and polluted water discharge from industrial plants.
• Poorly maintained swimming pools and spas.
• Soil.
• Naegleria fowleri likes and grows best at temperatures up to 115°F (46°C) and can survive for small periods at higher temperatures.
•    Naegleria can't live in saltwater like the ocean.
Rivers-Lakes
In our country majority of the population lives in town and villages where people have easy access to rivers, lakes or ponds. And Naegleria grows in naturally hot water. So it should be spread to masses so that lives of those could be saved who don’t even know about this evil bacteria. Moreover, in urban areas, summer is usually the time for swimming classes, water parks and picnics at lakes or rivers. It is better to be vigilant and look around if the swimming pools are properly maintained. And avoid water sports while in the summer season.

Possible chances of encounter: 

• Swimming, diving or any kind of water sports.
• Diving or bath in hot springs, ponds or rivers.
• Cleaning nose with untreated water.
• N. fowleri is not contagious.
Swimming-Diving,-Watersports

Symptoms of Naegleria Fowleri:

Those who get affected die within a week of symptoms visibility. The symptoms might vary from person to person, but the majority shows the following:
Highgrade-fever

• Confusion
• High-grade fever
• Seizures
• A change in the sense of smell or taste
• Severe headache
• Stiff neck
• Nausea and vomiting
sever-headache
• Loss of balance
• Sleepiness
• Hallucinations
• Sensitivity to light 



Can we prevent Naegleria Fowleri? 

•    Avoid swimming, diving, water skiing in warm freshwater.
•    Use nose clips or shut your nose before getting into the water.
•    Avoid the mud present in the shallow parts of warm freshwaters.
•    Chlorine tablets are much recommended to use in water tanks.

Treatment and Medication: 

fatal-disease
Unfortunately, the survival rate is very thin, and according to research published in https://www.researchgate.net/ 75% of diagnosis is established after the death. However, on early identification it is treatable. Moreover, the majority don’t have access to proper medical services and our hospitals are not suitably equipped to diagnose this infection at an early stage and offer proper medical treatment.
The medical fraternity is still not successful to find common criteria to examine and cure this deadly amoeba and government officials haven’t made any serious efforts. People are still taking measures on their own but somehow it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to spread awareness and ask the responsible personals to take this matter seriously and do the needful however possible.
For further knowledge and research, you can also visit;

 https://www.webmd.com/brain/brain-eating-amoeba

 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/naegleria-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20375470









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