brain eating amoeba

Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the "brain-eating amoeba," is a microscopic, single-celled organism found globally in warm freshwater (such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs) and soil.

How Infection Occurs

Infection is extremely rare. It typically occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose—often while swimming, diving, or participating in water sports. Once in the nasal cavity, the amoeba can travel up to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue and causes a severe, life-threatening condition called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

Note: You cannot get infected by swallowing water, and the infection is not contagious from person to person.

Symptoms

Symptoms of PAM typically begin about 5 days after exposure (though the range is 1 to 12 days) and progress rapidly. Early symptoms often mimic other common illnesses:

• Initial symptoms: Headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
• Later symptoms: Stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention, loss of balance, hallucinations, seizures, and eventually coma.

The disease is fatal in more than 97% of cases, and death usually occurs within 1 to 18 days after symptoms start. If you or someone you know develops these symptoms, especially after being in warm freshwater, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Prevention

While the risk is very low, you can reduce your chances of infection by taking these precautions when in or around warm fresh water:

• Nasal protection: Hold your nose shut or use nose clips when jumping or diving into fresh water.
• Keep your head above water: Avoid submerging your head in hot springs or other potentially contaminated warm bodies of water.
• Avoid sediment: Try not to dig or stir up the sediment while in shallow, warm freshwater.
• Safe water for rinsing: When rinsing your sinuses (e.g., using a neti pot), always use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water—never tap water.