What is the brain eating amoeba, causing 5 deaths in Kerala, can it be born in the geyser too

These days people are scared of an amoeba in Kerala. It enters the body through the nose. Then it goes into the mind. There it produces millions of amoeba, which eat brain from everywhere. If it reaches the brain, then there is no question of escape. This disease is called amybic meningo foodsfelitis. It is said that it is found in river, swimming pools, lakes and sources of water everywhere from the sea. After all, what is this amoeba, why it becomes so dangerous. Will know everything about this – as answer.

Some of its questions may have been emerging in your mind too
– Can this amoeba be in sources of water around us
– Can it be found in any drinking water
– Can it come through tap too
– Can it be born in our geyser
We will try to answer every such question.

11 people affected by this amoeba are being treated at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital in Kerala. One is in critical condition. Amoeba disease amoebic meningo foodsfelitis is a rare but malignant brain infection caused by the free-lived amoeba found in freshwater, lakes and rivers. It has emerged as a major health concern in Kerala.

Question – What is the amoeba, which eats the mind?

– The name of this amoeba eating the brain is Naiglaria Foveler. This is a free-lived amoeba living anywhere. It causes a rare but fatal disease called amybic meningecephilitis. This amoeba enters the body through the nose. Then reach the mind and destroys tissues.

Question – Is it found everywhere?

– No, it is not found everywhere. Naiglaria fovers are found mainly in hot freshwater sources, such as lakes, rivers, warm waterfalls, and sometimes in soil, but it grows in water with temperatures above 30 ° C. Does not thrive in coarse or sea water. It can be found worldwide. Especially in areas with warm climate such as America, Australia, Pakistan, India etc. However, its infection is very rare. Some cases have also been reported in India, but it is not universal.

Question – How can it be detected?

– The work of detecting this is done at the medical or laboratory level, it cannot be detected. The dynamic form of amoeba can be identified by looking at the water sample from the microscope. Culture is known by growing in a special medium. There is a device called PCR, he can also detect amoeba in a fast way through water samples. Health departments or laboratories take water samples and examine it. There is a lot of demand in Kerala these days.

Question – If it infects a human, then how can they find out?

– For this, CSF test is done, in which amoeba is seen with a weight mount microscopy in the fluid extracted from the spinal cord, where its speed is seen, but it is a very painful test. Amoeba is identified by stained after cytosentrifugation. PCR test is there.

Question – What are its symptoms?

Symptoms of amoeba infection are headaches, fever, vomiting, neck stiffness. When it appears, contact the doctor immediately, as it can be rapidly fatal. Diagnosis often occurs only after infection. For this, it is important that hot water in the nose is not allowed. Often when we take a bath in the river or take a bath in the swimming pool, they can enter through the nose.

Question – Does this amoeba go through medicine?

– The disease caused by this amoeba is very serious. It is fatal in most cases. It is very difficult to treat, although some drugs and treatments are used in it, which can be effective in some cases, provided the disease is diagnosed early. If this infection is detected in the initial stage, then there may be a possibility of recovering, but the success rate is very low. Most cases are fatal, as this amoeba rapidly destroys the brain.

Question – When does it find that amoeba has reached the brain?

Symptoms usually start within 1 to 9 days after Amiba reaches the brain. Once the brain reaches the brain, the amoeba destroys the brain tissue very fast. It can cause severe brain damage or death in a few days. Amoeba “eats” the brain neurons. Inflammation (encephalitis) produces, causing the brain functioning deteriorate rapidly. Most patients fall prey to death within 1-2 weeks of symptoms without treatment.

Question – When it eats the brain, does its size start to grow big?

– The size of this amoeba is such that it is not possible to see with naked eyes. It is about 10-25 micrometers. Actually, it does not eat brain tissue alone, but as soon as it reaches the brain, millions of amoeba starts to produce rapidly, the brain environment is favorable for it, there it gets nutrient neurons as a dose and then a favorable hot environment.
They also release enzymes and toxins. This process causes inflammation and bleeding in the brain, which increases the damage. So this means that the shape of amoeba does not increase but its number increases very fast after coming into the brain.

Question – Does it happen in all rivers, ponds or lakes?

– No, it is not found everywhere. It thrives in a hot freshwater environment. Those hot lakes, ponds and rivers are found, where the water temperature is 25 ° C to 40 ° C or more). It is more common in areas with hot weather or warm climate. Hot waterfalls are ideal environment for this. If the water of the swimming pool is not properly chlorineated then it can also happen there. Sometimes you can also be found in the soil near the water.

Question – Where is it not found?

– The sea or salt is not found in water, it is not able to survive in temperature water below 15 degrees. Well will not be found in chlorinated water.

Question – Is every river, pond, or lake full of its risk of its existence?

– No, not all water sources are risky. This is very rare. The infection caused by this is even more rare.

Question – Can it be born in hot water stores?

– The water stored in the geyser is usually more warm than it is more hot from 50 ° C to 70 ° C or higher, which is not favorable for this amoeba. This amoeba does not remain alive at a temperature above 46 degrees centigrade. If the temperature of the geyser is kept (30 ° C-40 ° C) and the water is stored for a long time, then it can create a favorable environment for amoeba, especially if the water is already contaminated.

Question – Can drinking can cause infection?

– It does not pose any danger by reaching the stomach. It is destroyed in the acidic environment of the stomach. This is dangerous only when it reaches the brain through the nose, such as when swimming or during the nasal cleaning (Netty pot). Drinking water risk the risk of infection only if the contaminated water goes into the nose.

Question – Can this amoeba be in tap water?