The risk of getting a “brain-eating amoeba” or Naegleria fowleri from swimming is incredibly rare, with only 29 infections in the United States since 2013. But the freshwater amoeba is known for causing sudden deaths, especially among minors.
Here’s what you need to know to be safe this summer.Naegleria is a single-celled organism found in warm freshwater and soil according to the. Naegleria fowleri, the only fatal species, enters the body when water gets in through the nose. On rare occasions, it can cause Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis , a brain infection that destroys brain tissue.
Most infections have come from swimming in freshwater bodies, such as lakes, rivers or hot springs. Very rarely, infections occurred from pools or water parks with insufficient chlorine levels. Early symptoms usually start about five days after infection and include a sudden onset of fever, headache, vomiting, or a stiff neck. As the disease progresses, symptoms include confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma.Again, rates of infection are incredibly low, with, according to the CDC. However, Naegleria fowleri is incredibly lethal. Among known infections since 1962, only four individuals have survived the amoeba, resulting in a 97% fatality rate.
For a reason yet to be identified by experts, the majority of cases are seen in males under 14 years old. Some theorize this is simply due to that population being the most active in swimming in these locations. Specific diagnostic tests for the amoeba are available in only a few labs in the U.S., and infections are so rare and tough to initially detect that
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