What is PAM disease?
Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), is a disease of the central nervous system 1,2. PAM is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living ameba. It is a rare disease* that is almost always fatal 3; only 4 people in the U.S. out of 151 have survived infection from 19
What parasite eats your brain?
Naegleria fowleri (commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba” or “brain-eating ameba”), is a free-living microscopic ameba*, (single-celled living organism). It can cause a rare** and devastating infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
Is there a cure for brain-eating amoeba?
The recommended treatment for naegleria infection is a combination of drugs, including: Amphotericin B, an antifungal drug that is usually injected into a vein (intravenously) or into the space around the spinal cord to kill the amoebas.
How do I know if I have PAM?
Initial symptoms of PAM start about 5 days (range 1 to 9 days) after infection. The initial symptoms may include headache, fever, nausea, or vomiting. Later symptoms can include stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations.
How do you prevent PAM?
To prevent infection:
- avoid jumping or diving into bodies of warm fresh water or thermal pools.
- keep your head above water in spas, thermal pools and warm fresh water bodies.
- empty and clean small collapsible wading pools daily.
- ensure swimming pools and spas are adequately chlorinated and well maintained.
How do you know if you have brain eating bacteria?
The initial symptoms may include headache, fever, nausea, or vomiting. Later symptoms can include stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations.
Is brain-eating amoeba in tap water?
Most Naegleria fowleri infections are associated with swimming in warm freshwater lakes and rivers. However, very rarely, Naegleria fowleri has caused deaths associated with tap or faucet water going up the nose 1-5.
How do I know if I have brain-eating amoeba?