Naegleria fowleri, or brain-eating amoeba, is a severe brain infection that grows in high temperatures.
According to Health News, this brain-eating amoeba enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain, infecting brain tissues and causing a rare disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
PAM is a brain infection considered as health emergency with immediate treatment.
This free-living amoebae is thermophilic, which means it lives in high temperatures (up to 115F or 46C) and is common in warm countries where average annual temperatures are between 59-64F or 15-18C.
The brain-eating amoeba is usually found during summer when the temperature is high. So here is a complete guide to protect yourself from Naegleria in summers.
Symptoms of PAM
The infected person experiences headache, fever, irritation, nausea, fatigue, stiff neck, vomiting, confusion, photophobia, seizures and even coma. The most dangerous fact is that more than 90% of all cases are fatal.
The symptoms begin to occur 5-7 days after initial exposure; however, in some cases, the first symptoms appear after only 24 hours.
How to protect yourself from PAM
Brain-eating amoeba is found in freshwater, geothermal water, swimming pools, water parks and water heaters.
To protect yourself from PAM, avoid activities in warm freshwater places like rivers and lakes, keep your head above the water, use nose plugs or simply hold your nose shut.
