Do you know that you should keep your children away from rivers and ponds? If not, then you should definitely do so, because if you are a little careless, then your child can get infected with brain-eating amoeba, which is caused by amoeba found in contaminated water. I am not saying this, but the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has said this in one of its guidelines, which motivates us to be cautious.
It is believed that brain-eating amoeba infection can spread rapidly during monsoon. This amoeba is found in soil and can reach human body by going into water present in river or reservoirs. Therefore, it is important that awareness should be created about it in villages and towns, in which responsibility of administrative officers should be fixed.
It is worth noting that the disease caused by amoeba infection is known as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) which is caused by an amoeba called Naegleria Fowleri. It is found in dirty water. It enters the body through the nose.
At the same time, according to the Center of Disease Control of America, PAM is a brain infection caused by a single-celled organism called amoeba i.e. Naegleria fowleri. This amoeba lives in soil and warm water lakes, rivers and springs. It is usually called brain-eating amoeba, because when water containing amoeba goes into the nose, it infects the brain. It is difficult to eliminate it with antibiotics. If the infection is not stopped in time, death can occur in 5 to 10 days.
At the same time, according to some other experts, this is a very risky disease which can kill the patient within just 4 to 14 or 18 days. Its mortality rate is around 98 percent, which means that 98 out of 100 patients may die. In such a situation, if it is compared with the mortality rate of corona or TB infection, then it is 97 and 10 times more respectively. This clearly shows that it is very important for the states to take action on time.
According to NCDC, three children have died of this disease in Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kannur of Kerala, while the fourth case has been reported in another Payyoli district. The worrying thing is that from May 2024 to July 2024, a total of 4 cases have been reported. At the same time, in the cases so far, only children have been affected by it. Some of its medicines are also being imported from abroad.
For example, these patients are coming forward in Kerala because all the districts here have been put on alert. Along with this, clear guidelines have also been given to the hospitals. Samples of suspected patients are being tested in the ICMR laboratory, where the presence of amoeba is seen in the patient's sample through PCR technique.
This is the reason why NDMC has asked all the states of the country to first identify the suspected districts so that the health teams there can be kept on alert. During a meeting with state officials in Kerala, NDMC came to know that earlier this infection was seen in one to two districts, but now it has reached about 4 to 5 districts. This is the reason why NDMC has advised the states to first identify the suspected districts and places.
As far as its symptoms are concerned, the patient has a severe headache. At the same time, the eyes are unable to bear light. Apart from this, the patient has a stiffness in the neck. The head starts spinning. There is continuous vomiting from the mouth. Then there is a high fever. This troubles the patient.
To avoid this, do not go into the water to swim without a nose plug. Avoid swimming in places with fresh-hot water. Boil tap water before using it. If you experience any symptoms after swimming in water, contact a doctor immediately.
After the NDMC has issued a nationwide alert, it is now the duty of the states to identify the infected patients in their respective districts, otherwise this deadly disease can take the form of an epidemic at any time. Conscious citizens should also become alert from this point of view and develop awareness around them, so that even innocent people become cautious.
– Kamlesh Pandey
Senior journalist and columnist
