Infectious Disease Control UnitMail Code: 1960 PO BOX 149347 - Austin, TX 78714-93471100 West 49th Street, Suite T801Austin, TX 78714
Phone: (512) 776-7676 Fax: (512) 776-7616
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Organism: Naegleria fowleri
Transmission Naegleria fowleri (amoeba) is found in warm fresh water such as rivers, lakes and ponds. The amoeba is introduced to the brain by forced entry of water up the nose during recreational fresh water activity. The organism has also been found in tap water and can be introduced to the brain when tap water is used for nasal irrigation or sinus flushes. Symptoms Infections with Naegleria fowleri cause the rare disease PAM, a brain infection that leads to the destruction of brain tissue. In its early stages, Naegleria fowleri infection may be similar to bacterial meningitis. Initial symptoms of PAM start 1 to 7 days after infection. Symptoms may include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and/or stiff neck. Later symptoms may include confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, a loss of balance, seizures, and/or hallucinations. After the start of symptoms, the disease progresses rapidly and death occurs within 10 days, usually on the 5th or 6th day. Treatment & Prevention Only sterile, distilled, or lukewarm previously boiled water should be used for nasal irrigaton or sinus flushes. Several drugs are effective against Naegleria fowleri in the laboratory. However, their effectiveness is unclear since almost all infections have been fatal even when people were treated. Recent Texas Trends No PAM cases have occurred in Texas in 2011. From 1983 - 2010 there were 28 cases of PAM reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Most of these cases occurred in young males ages 9-12 with exposure to warm fresh water lakes, ponds and rivers during the warm summer months. No Texas cases have resulted from nasal irrigation or sinus flushes.
Transmission
Naegleria fowleri (amoeba) is found in warm fresh water such as rivers, lakes and ponds. The amoeba is introduced to the brain by forced entry of water up the nose during recreational fresh water activity. The organism has also been found in tap water and can be introduced to the brain when tap water is used for nasal irrigation or sinus flushes.
Symptoms
Infections with Naegleria fowleri cause the rare disease PAM, a brain infection that leads to the destruction of brain tissue. In its early stages, Naegleria fowleri infection may be similar to bacterial meningitis. Initial symptoms of PAM start 1 to 7 days after infection. Symptoms may include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and/or stiff neck. Later symptoms may include confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, a loss of balance, seizures, and/or hallucinations. After the start of symptoms, the disease progresses rapidly and death occurs within 10 days, usually on the 5th or 6th day.
Treatment & Prevention
Only sterile, distilled, or lukewarm previously boiled water should be used for nasal irrigaton or sinus flushes.
Several drugs are effective against Naegleria fowleri in the laboratory. However, their effectiveness is unclear since almost all infections have been fatal even when people were treated.
Recent Texas Trends
No PAM cases have occurred in Texas in 2011. From 1983 - 2010 there were 28 cases of PAM reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Most of these cases occurred in young males ages 9-12 with exposure to warm fresh water lakes, ponds and rivers during the warm summer months. No Texas cases have resulted from nasal irrigation or sinus flushes.
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