{"id":10210,"date":"2019-09-05T15:28:58","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T15:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=10210"},"modified":"2021-06-28T14:16:34","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T14:16:34","slug":"14-common-causes-of-brain-eating-amoeba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-common-causes-of-brain-eating-amoeba\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Brain Eating Amoeba"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Brain-eating amoeba is a severe infection of the brain caused by Naegleria fowleri, resulting in the onset of a condition known as meningoencephalitis. Some people that experience infection with the amoeba show no symptoms and the amoeba leaves the body without causing any damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in some cases, the onset of meningoencephalitis causes massive inflammation in the brain, and patients that experience this infection have a high likelihood of dying. The symptoms of meningoencephalitis start with the patient suffering a high fever and chills. As the infection increases in intensity, patients begin to notice signs of headache and sensitivity to light, as well as a stiff neck and changes in their taste and smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, there’s nothing that doctors can do to stop the infection, and in most cases, people who contract meningoencephalitis will die within a week of the symptoms manifesting. Patients who experience the onset of meningoencephalitis require immediate hospitalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Myth \u2013 You Can Catch Brain-Eating Amoeba from Drinking Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet regarding brain-eating amoeba<\/a>. There are some websites and accounts of people that suggest drinking water can cause you to contract the amoeba.\u00a0However, this is not the case. The amoeba responsible for the development of meningoencephalitis can only enter the brain by accessing the nasal cavity where it travels into the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, it’s impossible to contract the amoeba through drinking out of a glass or a bottle. The patient would have to miss their mouths and pour water down their nose to allow the amoeba to enter the brain. Thus, you don’t have to worry about your favorite brand of bottled water containing brain-eating amoeba, or contracting the amoeba through drinking water out of your tap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amoeba responsible for the infection lives in still bodies of fresh water. Therefore, we can put to rest the suggestion that drinking water can cause the disease. Even if you were to drink water contaminated with the amoeba, it would not cause any form of brain damage or the onset of meningoencephalitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Freshwater Swimming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most accounts of infection with brain-eating amoeba occur in bodies of still freshwater such as lakes or ponds. It’s also more likely for you to contract it through swimming in bodies of freshwater that are still, such as lakes and ponds.\u00a0While the amoeba can occur in rivers, it’s less likely for you to contract the amoeba as the turbulence in the water reduces your chance of infection<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To date, there are no occurrences of people contracting brain-eating amoeba through swimming in saltwater sources, such as the ocean. Medical science believes that the amoeba cannot survive in saltwater and needs fresh water to thrive. Therefore, if you plan on going on vacation to the beach, you don’t have to worry about contracting brain-eating amoeba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People that are going swimming in freshwater sources should always wear a nose clip to limit the chances of brain-eating amoeba entering the nasal passages, and reaching the brain. This simple strategy is often more than enough to mitigate any risk involved with the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Swimming in Large Pools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, there was a case of brain-eating amoeba infection in a surfer that attended a surf session at the BSR Wave Ranch in Texas. This wave pool was still in the early stages of experimentation and testing when the surfer was invited to ride the waves at the ranch. A week after returning home, the service started to notice the signs of infection and immediately transported to the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors diagnosed the surfer with brain-eating amoeba, which caused the onset of meningoencephalitis<\/a>. Unfortunately,\u00a0the story did not have a happy ending, and the surfer ended up dying from the results of the infection. When the media inquired about the cause of death with the BSR Wave Ranch,\u00a0the company admitted fault. However, since the ranch was in the primary testing phases, and the surfer signed a waiver, his family was unable to receive any damages from the BSR Wave Ranch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been other cases of brain-eating amoeba infection occurring from other surfers visiting the BSR Wave Ranch, and the park still is in operation today with no further incidents reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Warm Weather<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the wintertime, pathogens <\/a>become inactive and experience a period of hibernation until the weather starts to warm up. As the springtime begins to warm the environment and the ground,\u00a0pathogens begin to emerge and look for hosts to infect. It’s for this reason that we always seem to get sick around the change of seasons, particularly between the fall and the summertime.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While most people think about seasonal illnesses in the form of catching the flu, it could also result in infection with a brain-eating amoeba. The amoeba typically occurs in freshwater bodies, and most people don’t go swimming in frozen lakes or cold rivers in the wintertime. The cold weather also may prevent amoebas from being active, reducing the chances of infection during the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, it’s not surprising that most cases of infection occur during the summer and involve people swimming in lakes while on vacation. If you visit a lake this summer, remember to take a long and nose clip to ensure that no amoeba enters your nasal passages while you swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5.  Locations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brain-eating amoeba occurs in freshwater sources all around the world. There are cases of infection in almost every continent, from the United States to Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. However, cases of infection with brain-eating amoeba tend to occur more in warmer areas of the world, such as the Southern States of America, as well as Central America, Australia, and Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists believe that the reason for the high rate of infection in warmer parts of the world has to do with the segment we just discussed on seasonal variations in temperature<\/a>. The colder parts of the world are inhospitable for the survival of the amoeba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this is not always a clear indication of whether or not it safe to swim in freshwater bodies in the northern states. There are cases of brain-eating amoeba that occurred in both Connecticut and Minnesota as well. The only way to be sure that you don’t experience and infection with brain-eating amoeba is to wear nose clips when you go swimming in freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers or dams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Neti Pots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When some people experience the onset of sinusitis<\/a>, they use neti pots to help them relieve nasal congestion. A neti pot is exceptionally efficient at unblocking your sinuses, and millions of people around the world use them to help them gain relief from the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in recent years, there have been a few cases of people developing brain-eating amoeba infection after using neti pots. However, in most cases of infection, the patient did not experience the onset of brain-eating amoeba due to the neti pot itself.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, these individuals experience the affection due to using contaminated water in the neti pot. Using a neti pot gives the amoeba direct access to the brain through the nasal cavities, resulting in the onset of meningoencephalitis. Whenever you select a neti pot to alleviate your symptoms of sinusitis, it’s vital that you check the label to ensure that the water used in the product is either sterile or filtered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also use tap water in your neti pot provided that you boiled it beforehand and allow it to cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Diagnosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you start to develop flu-like symptoms\u00a0a week after swimming in freshwater sources,\u00a0it’s vital that you visit the physician immediately for a diagnosis<\/a>. In most cases, you won’t be experiencing the effects of brain-eating amoeba,\u00a0as confirmed cases of the condition are extremely rare. However, it’s a prudent strategy to ensure\u00a0that you don’t have an infection with the amoeba, and it’s well worth the trip to the hospital to discover the source of your condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the physician does suspect that you have a case a brain-eating amoeba, they may conduct a spinal tap to analyze your cerebrospinal fluid, (CSF). The CSF is the fluid surrounding in protecting your spinal cord and brain. Doctors collect the sample by using a lumbar puncture, inserting a needle into the vertebra in the lumbar spine of your lower back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lumbar puncture is the only means to collect a sample that shows infection with the amoeba. In some cases, the amoeba may also be visible under a microscope in the CSF sample.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Avoiding Infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are few pragmatic strategies involved with preventing infection with a brain-eating amoeba<\/a>. If you’re visiting areas of the United States this summer where you intend to swim in bodies of fresh water, such as lakes and dams,\u00a0take along a set of nose clips. These clips are affordable and available from most pharmacies, drug stores, and sports shops across the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find yourself swimming in freshwater sources without nose clips, try to keep your head above water at all times. If you do submerge your head under the water, try pinching your nose with your fingers to prevent any water from entering the nasal cavities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amoeba also resides in the sediment found at the bottom of the freshwater source. Therefore, avoid diving with jumping into lakes with a shallow bottom, that may disturb the sediment, and agitate the amoeba. If you plan on going swimming in someone’s pool, make sure that they have a chlorination system that kills any living bacteria or pathogens such as amoebas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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