Click me
Transcribed

Brain-Eating Ameba causes, symptoms and prevention

What you need to know about BRAIN-EATING AMEBA (Naegleria fowleri) WHAT IS IT? Naegleria fowleri is an ameba (microscopic, single-celled organism) that thrives on bacteria in warm, freshwater lakes, rivers and springs. Normally, it is of no concern. If, however, a person gets contaminated water forced up their nose, the amoeba can make its way to the brain where, in just a few days, it destroys tissue, causes swelling and ends in almost certain death. How common is it? Between 1962 and 2013, only 132 Americans are known to have gotten infected. (U.S. averages o-8 infections annually.) That sounds pretty rare - so how serious can it be? Of the 132 reported cases in those 50 years, only 3 survived. WHERE IS IT MOST COMMON... AND WHEN? OUTDOOR EMPERATURE RECENT RAINFALL MN Hot Flood NC Nice Perfect CA AZ ОК AR GA SC LA Cold Drought TX While Naegleria fowleri can survive anywhere in the U.S., it is heat-loving, so the great majority of infections have occurred in southern states. July, August and, to a lesser degree, September account for almost all cases. Low water levels brought on by drought or a heat wave are especially problematic. (But climate warming may change this.) IS THERE A TREATMENT? WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? A 2013 victim appears to have had a complete recovery, thanks to very quick diagnosis and treatment (within 36 hours) that included the ameba-killing drug, Miltefosine, along with cooling the body below normal temperature. Ear Early Symptoms May Include: · headache • fever • a stiff neck• loss of sense of smell • vomiting fe nau vomiting stiff neck • nausea 4 WAYS TO PROTECT OURSELVES! 3 Summer Outdoor Water Safety Tips: 1. Keep your head above warm lake or river water, or hot springs. 2. Wear a nose plug when playing in warm freshwater. You can't become infected 3. Avoid stirring-up sediment in shallow lakes or rivers. from drinking or bathing in contaminated water. Infection can occur only if the ameba gets in your nose. Other Safety Tip: 4. If you rinse your sinuses, use only boiled, filtered, distilled or disinfected water. MY DOG LOVES THE WATER. IS HE OR SHE AT RISK? Though dogs and other animals may be susceptible, reported cases are extremely rare. (Susceptibility may vary between species.) However, you'd still be wise to practice at least a reasonable degree of caution, such as: 1. Keep pets' drinking bowl clean and change water at least twice daily. As much as possible, prevent them from drinking puddle or pond water. 2. Dogs that struggle to swim or those with health conditions that make swimming difficult should be supervised closely. 3. Bathe or rinse dogs after swimming to prevent skin infections. For More Information on Naegleria fowleri, visit www.AtlantaHealth.com Sources: http://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/freeLivingAmebic/gallery.html#nfowltrophs http://www.cde.gov/parasites/naegleria/naegleria_factsheet508c.pdf http://accuweather.com/en/weather-news/brain-eatingamoebacaselinkedto/15985705 http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/graphs.html#casereports http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/treatment.html http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/assets/oph/Center-PHCH/Center-CH/infectious-epi/ EpiManual/NaegleriaFowlerilnAnimalsManual.pdf o copyright 2014. AtlantaHealth.com

Brain-Eating Ameba causes, symptoms and prevention

shared by AtlantaHealth on Nov 04
85 views
0 shares
0 comments
Over the past 50 years, there have been approximately 134 reported cases of brain-eating ameba (Naegleria fowleri) infection in the US. That's the good news; this specific amebic infection is extr...

Category

Health
Did you work on this visual? Claim credit!

Get a Quote

Embed Code

For hosted site:

Click the code to copy

For wordpress.com:

Click the code to copy
Customize size