Why in the news?

A five-year-old girl in Kozhikode, Kerala has succumbed to primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by Naegleria fowleri.
- India has recorded 20 reported cases of PAM, with the recent case marking the seventh infection in Kerala.

What is Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)?

PAM is a rare brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater and soil worldwide.
- An amoeba is a type of cell or unicellular organism with the ability to alter its shape, primarily by extending and retracting pseudopods.
- Higher temperatures of up to 115°F (46°C) are conducive to its growth and it can survive for short periods in warm environments.
The amoeba enters the body through the nose, typically during activities like swimming, and travels to the brain, causing severe damage.
PAM is also non-communicable.
Symptoms: Headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma.
- According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people with PAM die within 1 to 18 days after symptoms begin. It usually leads to coma and death after 5 days.

Currently, there are no established effective treatments for PAM.
Medical interventions typically involve a combination of drugs, including amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine, and dexamethasone.