Amoebic meningoencephalitis which is a rare brain infection is caused by Naegleria fowleri, otherwise known as ‘brain-eating amoeba’.
A five-year-old girl from Kerala’s Malappuram district who had been receiving treatment for amoebic meningoencephalitis at Government Medical College Hospital Kozhikode has died.
He had been treated at the Maternity and Child health Center of the college hospital from May 13th. She was on ventilator for over one week.
Naegleria fowleri causes this rare brain infection which is also referred to as ‘brain-eating amoeba’.
Fadva took a bath with her relatives in Kadalundi River near their house on May 1st. On May 10th, her parents took her to a pediatrician for headaches and vomiting. On May 12th, she vomited again and felt nauseous hence was taken to a private Chelari hospital. She was later shifted to the medical college hospital.
Four other children who were said to have taken bath in the river along with her had been admitted earlier. All of them have since been discharged after lab tests cleared any chances of infection.
