Additional Coverage:
- Teen dies from ‘brain-eating amoeba’ just days after young girl succumbs to same rare infection (foxnews.com)
A teenager in North Carolina has tragically died from a rare and deadly brain infection caused by an amoeba found in warm freshwater, according to state health officials. The teen’s mother shared on a GoFundMe page that his first symptom was severe headaches, a sign she never expected to be so serious.
The infection is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba that lives in ponds, lakes, and rivers, particularly during hot weather when water becomes warm and stagnant. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services expressed condolences to the family and community affected by this heartbreaking loss.
This death comes just days after an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana also succumbed to the same infection. State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore emphasized that while infections are extremely rare, the amoeba is present across the United States, and people should take precautions during the warmer months.
Often called the “brain-eating amoeba,” Naegleria fowleri causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rapidly progressing and usually fatal brain infection. The amoeba enters the body when contaminated water is forced up the nose, typically during activities like diving or water sports.
Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, explained that the amoeba thrives in hot, stagnant water and that the infection is nearly always lethal once symptoms begin, with a mortality rate close to 100%. The infection does not occur from swallowing water and does not spread from person to person.
Early symptoms, appearing about five days after exposure, include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. As the disease advances, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma may occur. Diagnosis requires specialized testing of cerebrospinal fluid obtained via spinal tap.
To reduce risk, experts advise avoiding warm freshwater bodies where the amoeba is likely present, or taking precautions such as wearing nose clips and avoiding putting the head underwater. The CDC also warns against disturbing sediment in lakes and ponds, as the amoeba can live in the soil.
Treatment involves a combination of antimicrobial and anti-amoebic drugs, but given the rarity of cases, effective therapies remain limited. Dr. Kahn noted that by the time the amoeba reaches the brain and damages tissue, it is often too late for treatment to succeed.
Anyone experiencing sudden severe headaches, fever, stiff neck, or vomiting-especially after swimming in warm freshwater-should seek immediate medical care. Public health officials urge awareness to prevent further tragedies linked to this rare but deadly infection.