A rare brain-eating amoeba infection has been confirmed in a Missouri resident who may have contracted the illness while water-skiing in the Lake of Ozarks. The unidentified adult is currently hospitalized in intensive care and being treated for primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a deadly infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.
The patient’s exposure to the amoeba has not been confirmed, but health officials have warned that recreational water users should assume it is present in warm freshwater across the US. Infection through Naegleria fowleri can occur when swimming in fresh water, and the amoeba can enter the body through the nose.
According to health officials, the infection usually begins with symptoms such as headache, nausea, fever, and vomiting within 5-12 days after exposure. As the infection progresses, people may experience confusion, stiff neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures, and coma. In most cases, death occurs between 1-18 days after infection.
To prevent potentially fatal infections, health officials recommend taking precautions when swimming in freshwater. This includes holding nose shut, using nose clips or keeping head above water during activities in warm bodies of water. Experts also advise avoiding immersing your head in the water while swimming and not drinking contaminated water.
Treatment for brain-eating amoebas usually involves a combination of antifungal medications and antibiotics. However, the effectiveness of these treatments on actual infected individuals is unknown due to the high fatality rate. Experts emphasize that millions of people enjoy swimming every summer without becoming infected, highlighting the rarity of cases.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/person-infected-brain-eating-amoeba-after-water-skiing-health-officials-say