Death confirmed from rare and mortal “ameba” on the South Lake

According to health officials, a pediatric death has been notified by a “brain eating owner”.

The Health Richland Prism Hospital of Columbia publicly confirmed the death on July 22, according to a statement from the South Carolina Public Health Department (DPH) sent to Fox News Digital.

The patient died after exposure to Naegleria Fowleri, a rare amoeba that causes a brain infection that can jeopardize the life called Meningoencephalitis Primary Amebica (PAM).

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“The exposure to the Naegleria Fowleri organism took place on Lake Murray, but we cannot be completely secure, as this organism occurs naturally and is present in many warm water lakes, rivers and streams,” said the DOX DPH of South Carolina.

“Aquatic activities such as swimming or diving in warm freshwater areas, such as lakes and rivers, can increase the risk of exposure and infection.”

Naegleria Fowleri can be a risk of swimming in freshwater. The amoeba is more active during the months that the water temperature remains above 77f – July, August and September, said the health care official.

Human infection is very rare, as this is the first case of Naegleria Fowleri in South Carolina since 2016.

There is no greater risk to the public, as Naegleria Fowleri is not a transmissible person to the person, according to the statement.

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“Historically, an infection does not increase the possibilities that another will occur in the same body of water.”

Fox News Digital previously spoke to Tammy Lundstrom, a medical manager and Trinity Health Infectious Diseases in Michigan, about the risks of infection.

“The risk of brain food is very low,” he said. “Less than ten people are infected every year in the United States, but unfortunately most cases are fatal. There are only a good number of known cases survivors.”

The mortality rate by Naegleria Fowleri exceeds 97%, by CDC.

Warning signs to recognize

Pam’s initial symptoms usually begin about five days after the exposure, but they can be noticeable sooner.

The first signs normally Includes headacheNausea, fever and/or vomiting, says the CDC website.

As the infection progresses, people may experience confusion, rigid neck, disorientation, hallucinations, convulsions and coma.

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“People usually begin to feel bad at 12 days after the water exposure,” said Lundstrom. “Early symptoms need to cause medical evaluation as they are also signs of bacterial meningitis. “”

Death can occur anywhere between one and 18 days of infection, at an average of five days.

Prevention of infection

To prevent potentially fatal infections, South Carolina’s health officials said it is important to know how and when the exposure could be dangerous.

“How the exposure occurs is when the water enters the nose strongly,” said officials in Fox News Digital. “To reduce the risk of Naegleria Fowleri infection, keep your nose closed, use nose clips or keep your head above water and avoid jumping or immersing fresh water.”

Lundstrom reiterated that it is best to avoid submerging his head in the water when swimming in summer.

“The infection occurs when Water that carries the owner rises to the nose of a person, usually during swimming,” he told Fox News Digital earlier. “It is unknown why some people become infected and others, even swimming companions, no.”

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The water contaminated water does not present a risk and the infection does not extend from one person to another, added Lundstrom.

As the owner is on the ground, the CDC also recommends avoiding the agitation of the sediment at the bottom of the lakes, ponds and rivers.

Treatment of Amebas that eat brain

When a patient has been diagnosed with an amoeba that eats brain, the treatment usually includes a variety of antifungal drugsas well as antibiotics such as rifampine and azitromycin, according to Lundstrom.

Miltefosine, a newer antifungal medication, has been shown to kill Nagleria Fowleri in laboratory tests and were used to treat some surviving patients, CDC states on their website.

“However, the effect of all these drugs on infected people is unknown due to the high mortality rate,” said Lundstrom.

Those who experience a sudden headache, fever, rigid neck or vomiting, especially if they have been swimming recently in lukewarm freshwater, should Medical attentionThe CDC recommends.

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Despite the high infection mortality rate, Lundstrom emphasized the rarity of cases.

“Millions of people enjoy swim every summer, but only a few are infected,” he said.