Naegleria Infection

Pathophysiology
Naegleria  infection is a rare and usually fatal brain infection caused by an amoeba commonly found in freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs. Exposure occurs during swimming or other water sports. travels up the nose to the brain, where it causes severe damage. Most people who have naegleria infection die within a week.

Statistics
Free-living pathogenic amoebae of the species Naegleria fowleri are responsible for primary amoebic meningo-encephalitis (PAM), a rare disease with a fatality rate of 95%. In fact, of the 310 cases of the disease that have been reported worldwide In the last 50 years, only 11 victims survived.

Treatment
The primary treatment for naegleria infection is an antifungal drug, amphotericin B. An investigational drug called miltefosine (Impavido) is now available for emergency treatment of naegleria infection. Naegleria species are highly sensitive to the antifungal drug amphotericin B, and it has been used as the core antimicrobial in virtually all cases in which recovery occurred.

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