AI Generated Image
North Carolina teen critically ill with rare brain infection
WXII • • health
Key Points:
- North Carolina health officials have reported a rare and often fatal brain infection caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri in a teenager from central North Carolina, who is currently critically ill.
- Naegleria fowleri is found in warm freshwater such as ponds, lakes, and rivers, and infection occurs when contaminated water is forced up the nose, leading to primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which progresses rapidly and is usually fatal within five days.
- Symptoms start with severe headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting, progressing to stiff neck, seizures, and coma due to brain inflammation and pressure.
- Fewer than 10 cases of PAM typically occur annually in the U.S., and the source of this particular infection is under investigation.
- Health officials recommend precautions such as using nose clips, avoiding head submersion in warm freshwater, and avoiding stirring up sediment to reduce the risk of infection.
