Naegleria fowleri

Naegleria fowleri

By: Maggie Snyder

Timeline

very rapid progression

symptoms begin to present in patient 1-9 days after initial exposure to organism

Environment

death usually occurs 1-18 days after the onset of symptoms

warm standing freshwater

Transmission

pools not properly treated

only 4 doctumented survivors of PAM in history, one with permanent brain damage

untreated tap water

enters through nasal canal

ponds, lakes, or hot springs

any standing water, puddles, ditches, rain gutters

infection occurs when swimming, diving, or jumping in contaminated water sources

water temperature approximately 80° F

cannot be transmitted person to person

infection can occur from using contaminated water for sinus rinsing, for example with a Neti-Pot

The Disease

Signs & Symptoms

cannot be transmitted from drinking contaminated water

First, fever, headache, vomiting, nausea

Next, hallucinations, neck stiffness, seizures, altered mental status, coma

The neurological infection will lead to brain swelling and eventually death in most cases

PAM

Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis

The Microbe

neurological disease

After initial infection...

rapid progression of symptoms

once Naegleria fowleri has found its way into a hosts nasal cavity

the microbe travels up the nasal canal

single celled amoeba

migrating to the olfactory nerve

then enters the brain through the cribriform plate in the skull

typically ends in death

begins to invade brain tissue

pathogenic

Treatment

no known cure

experimental drugs have been tried, such as Miltefosine, a cancer medication

thermophilic - heat loving

physical characteristics

clinical hypothermia has been used as treatment to lower to internal body temperature so low the organism cannot survive, still experimental

Structure

feeds on bacteria

three forms at different stages in life cycle

cyst

flagellate

trophozoite

Who is at risk?

anyone exposing themselves to water potentially contaminated by Naegleria fowleri is at risk

infection is more likely in children because they are the age group

more commonly participating in these water activities

race and socioeconomic status are not risk factors

Target Audience

those living in warmer climates are at higher risk due to the preferred environment of the microbe

Complications

the target audience would be anyone exposed to water potentially contaminated with Naegleria fowleri

parents of children that often play in these water sources should be especially mindful of the risks

complications of this disease are difficult to pinpoint due to the 98% fatality rate

when a disease is neurological all body systems can be effected, making every symptom a "complication"

researchers have discovered antibodies to Naegleria fowleri in some people, giving the medical and scientific community hope for future advances in treatment and prevention

THE END

questions?