A rare case of brain-eating amoeba infection has been reported in a three-month-old infant in Kerala, marking the youngest such case in the state. The infection, known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), is caused by the free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri, which is usually found in contaminated freshwater sources. Authorities traced the source of infection to nasal rinsing with well water that tested positive for the amoeba.
Insights from a Pakistan-Cambridge study on cases in Karachi over 14 years helped clarify how such infections occur. The study found that most infections were linked to nasal rinsing or sinus cleansing with unsafe water, rather than swimming in contaminated water. This connection has proven crucial in understanding the Kerala case and preventing similar infections.
In response, Kerala’s health department has updated its guidelines, advising residents to use only sterile, distilled, or filtered water for nasal rinsing. Health officials are emphasizing caution to prevent further cases and are closely monitoring water sources in the region to reduce the risk of this rare but deadly infection.
