Kerala Health Minister Veena George Warns About Rare Brain Disease from Stagnant Water
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 2: Kerala Health Minister Veena George held a high-level meeting of the health department after two deaths and one hospitalization due to amoebic meningoencephalitis in the last two months.
Special guidelines will be released for the state regarding amoebic meningoencephalitis, and awareness will be strengthened. The amoeba enters the brain through rare openings in the thin membrane that separates the nose from the brain or through a hole in the eardrum, causing meningoencephalitis. Children with pus in their ears should not bathe in ponds or stagnant water.
The minister urged immediate treatment if symptoms are seen. Bathing in stagnant water and diving should be avoided. Water in theme parks and swimming pools should be properly chlorinated.
Amoebic meningoencephalitis is a rare disease caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba that infects the brain. It is not transmitted from human to human. Symptoms appear within one to nine days and include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty turning the neck. In critical conditions, symptoms include epilepsy, loss of consciousness, and memory loss. Diagnosis is made by testing spinal fluid.
People who bathe in stagnant water should report symptoms and seek treatment. Avoid bathing in stagnant water or drains and do not pour water into your nose. Properly chlorinated swimming pools are safe for children.
