The seven-year-old brother of the nine-year-old girl from Thamarassery, who died of amoebic meningoencephalitis on August 14, has also tested positive for the infection. He is now undergoing treatment at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health (IMCH), Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital (MCH).
Exposure Through Pond Bathing
According to IMCH Superintendent Dr. Arun Preet, the boy had bathed in the same pond near their house where his sister had also bathed. Soon after, he developed fever and headache. His samples were tested in the hospital’s microbiology lab and confirmed positive for the infection.
As reported by TOI, their 11-year-old brother is also under observation at the medical college. However, his test results have returned negative and he remains asymptomatic.
Rising Number of Cases in Kozhikode
With this new case, the total number of patients under treatment for amoebic meningoencephalitis at MCH has risen to five.
On Wednesday, an 11-year-old girl from Chelari in Malappuram and a 49-year-old man tested positive for the infection. In addition, a three-month-old infant from Omassery and a 40-year-old man from Annassery are also receiving treatment at the medical college.
Understanding Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare but often fatal brain infection. It is usually linked to bathing or swimming in water contaminated with the amoeba Naegleria fowleri. This free-living organism thrives in warm, shallow lakes and rivers and does not require a host to survive.
Infection occurs when contaminated water enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue and causes severe neurological damage.