Naegleria fowleri strikes!

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http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifes...-reports-rare-water-borne-illness-ar-1236776/

Published: August 13, 2011

"State reports rare water-borne illness"

A rare infection associated with a type of amoeba that lives in stagnant water and travels up the sinuses and infects the brain, almost always causing meningitis, has been reported in a Virginia person.

The free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri proliferates in stagnant freshwater lakes, ponds, streams and rivers when temperatures climb into the 80s, health officials said in an advisory issued Saturday about safe swimming practices.

"Sadly, we have had a Naegleria infection in Virginia this summer," said Dr. Keri Hall, state epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health, in a statement.

"It's important that people be aware of … safe swimming messages," Hall said.

Naegleria fowleri, sometimes called a "brain-eating amoeba," travels up the nose to the brain where it destroys the brain tissue.

For privacy reasons, the health department does not disclose details on individual cases but, this month, officials confirmed a case of meningitis in a person in the Central Health Region of Virginia, which includes the Richmond area.

The aunt of a 9-year-old Henrico County boy who died Aug. 5 from meningitis said waterborne-illness was mentioned as a possible cause of the illness.

"The doctor described it to us as such a slight chance that they didn't even think it would be possible," said Bonnie Strickland, aunt of Christian Alexander Strickland.

The week before Christian died from meningitis, he was his usual active self and had attended a fishing camp, his aunt said.

In general, meningitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites, Hall said last week.

Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

Only 32 Naegleria fowleri infections were reported in the U.S. from 2001 to 2010 and, before this summer, the most recent case in Virginia was in 1969, state health officials said.

Symptoms of infection may not begin until a week or more after swimming.

To avoid waterborne illness or contaminating swimming waters, health officials advise:

Don't swim when you have diarrhea.
Don't swallow pool, lake, pond or river water.
Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before and after swimming.
Wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom or changing diapers.
Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.
Change diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside or beachside.
Avoid swimming, diving or other activities in obviously stagnant freshwater bodies when temperatures are high and water levels are low.
Hold your nose or wear nose plugs when underwater or when diving or swimming in hot, shallow freshwater bodies.
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thanks for that.
I was honestly just yesterday reading about this in CMMRS and thought "what a terrible thing to catch" as 95% of patients die within the 1st week.
the only 2 patients who survived were treated with intrathecal amphotericin B.
 
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Didn't the black guy on House MD catch this? Something about pigeons, rainwater, and weed. Then they biopsied his brain before House could figure it out?
 
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Alvarez13 said:
Didn't the black guy on House MD catch this? Something about pigeons, rainwater, and weed. Then they biopsied his brain before House could figure it out?
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Yep. I need to starting using this "google" website more 😀
 
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There has been a scary rise in the "superbugs" in recent times like the recent Salmonella strains (S. Kentucky, S. Heidelberg, etc). Crazy times, the world is in chaos (droughts, famines, protests, wars, earthquakes, tsunami, and now Elenin....blah).
 
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BelieveTheHype said:
There has been a scary rise in the "superbugs" in recent times like the recent Salmonella strains (S. Kentucky, S. Heidelberg, etc). Crazy times, the world is in chaos (droughts, famines, protests, wars, earthquakes, tsunami, and now Elenin....blah).
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I don't know about you guys, but I am gonna be prepared when the zombies come.
 
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Wow that is really sad - to hear about these deaths. Condolences to the families.

Question: First Aid says there is no treatment for Naegleria infection. However, I found stuff online saying amphotericin B is the primary treatment. Which is 'correct'? I have not had Microbio yet so I have no clue but was curious!
 
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futuredoctor10 said:
Wow that is really sad - to hear about these deaths. Condolences to the families.

Question: First Aid says there is no treatment for Naegleria infection. However, I found stuff online saying amphotericin B is the primary treatment. Which is 'correct'? I have not had Microbio yet so I have no clue but was curious!
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You might be a gunner when...your first reference source is First Aid. Love it.
 
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futuredoctor10 said:
Wow that is really sad - to hear about these deaths. Condolences to the families.

Question: First Aid says there is no treatment for Naegleria infection. However, I found stuff online saying amphotericin B is the primary treatment. Which is 'correct'? I have not had Microbio yet so I have no clue but was curious!
Click to expand...

You're probably using an old version of FA. The 2011 FA if I remember says that amphotericin is effective for some survivors.
 
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qmcat said:
You're probably using an old version of FA. The 2011 FA if I remember says that amphotericin is effective for some survivors.
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This. Btw, the first victims in the last few weeks haven't survived despite "treatment." I am assuming this is referring to Amphotericin B.
 
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