What could be better than having a swim in a beautiful lake during hot, summer days? Unfortunately, it turns out that such activities hold some dangers and should be practiced cautiously. On occasions, the danger could even be lethal.
Three people have died of a rare infection that is caused by the so-called ‘brain eating amoeba.’ Two of the victims are young children and the third one is an adult in his 20s. Two cases took place in Virginia over the course of the summer.
The rare infection takes place after contact with pond or lake water. Though very rare, the contamination tends to be lethal. Naegleria Fowleri, the brain eating amoeba, enters the body through the nose and causes irreversible damage to brain tissue.
Two of the victims had been swimming while the third person used tap water to rinse his nose and sinuses as a form of allergy treatment. The person had not gone swimming in a warm water pond or a lake, which makes the case rather unusual.
Such infections take place each year. Three to four cases are reported, which signifies that the occurrence has remained unchanged in 2011. The people who are most vulnerable include young individuals and children who go swimming outdoors, MSNBC reports.
The bad news is that medics are still incapable of discovering a cure for the infection. As a result, most cases have a lethal outcome. Though some medications have the power to slow down the progress of the infection, it tends to progress until the person dies.
The fact that infections with the brain eating amoeba happens so rarely makes it even more difficult for medics and researchers to discover an effective treatment.
Since the infection is quite rare, people are unfamiliar with it and its symptoms. They start seeking medical attention when it is already too late. According to reports, death takes place three to seven days after the appearance of the first worrying symptoms.
An infection with the brain eating amoeba presents no specific symptoms. It can easily be mistaken for another disease or condition, which slows down the treatment even further.
All this sounds scary but people should remain calm. There is no outbreak and the number of cases has remained nearly unchanged over the past years. In addition, many individuals who are exposed to the bacteria will never get infected. Medics have no explanation for this phenomenon.
The disease that develops as a result of the infection is called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Early diagnosis is impossible.
Parents of young kids and swimmers need to be aware of the dangers connected to enjoying the water in ponds, rivers and lakes. The danger increases during the summer, when temperatures tend to be high. Stagnant waters that get heated throughout the day should be avoided.
People should not be reassured by meningitis vaccination. The microorganism responsible for the infection are greatly different from the brain eating amoeba. Preventive practices are the best way to make sure that everyone in the family stays healthy and safe from harm.