Know these things before you panic about the Brain-Eating Amoeba!

Have you ever bathed in a river, lake, or stream with your friends on a hot day? Have you ever jumped into the water, dived in, and played? We all love it. But did you know that there could be a dangerous enemy in that warm, still water that we can't see? Today we're talking about a very rare, but equally serious infection called " brain -eating amoeba." Hearing this name can be scary, but before you panic, it's important to be fully aware of it.

Who is this brain-eating amoeba? (Brain-Eating Amoeba)

Simply put, it is a tiny organism made up of a single cell. To be precise, the scientific name of this amoeba species is `Naegleria fowleri`. They prefer to live in warm, untreated freshwater. They are called ``brain-eating amoeba`` because if this organism somehow enters the human body, it goes to the brain and destroys the tissue there. Doctors call the most severe brain infection caused by this ``Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis`` or ``(PAM)``.

When environmental conditions become unfavorable, these amoebas become dormant, as if in a dormant state (cysts). When the environment becomes warm and favorable again, these cysts become active again and search for food.

Where can these amoebas live?

The `Naegleria fowleri` amoeba prefers very warm water, around 46 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit). They are commonly found in warm regions around the world.

How do you get infected?

This is something that everyone should know. Imagine someone jumping into a pool of warm water containing these amoebas. If the water rushes up their nose , the amoebas have a chance to travel to the top of their nose. From there, they travel along our olfactory nerve and go straight to the brain.

In fact, the normal diet of these amoebas is bacteria . The human brain is an accidental food source for them. So this is not intentional, but an unfortunate incident.

What are the symptoms? How dangerous is it?

The symptoms of this infection are very similar to those of ordinary viral meningitis in the early stages, making it difficult to diagnose early.

• Early symptoms:
• Severe headache
• Fever
• Stiff neck
• Appetite
• Vomiting
• Changes in memory and behavior (altered mental state)
• Later symptoms :
• Seizures
• Coma
• Hallucinations
• Blurred vision
• Loss of taste

Symptoms can appear between 2 and 15 days after the infected water enters the nose. Once symptoms begin, the disease progresses very rapidly. Death can usually occur within 3 to 7 days. Only a handful of people in the world have survived this disease. The mortality rate is more than 97%. Therefore, this is considered a very serious infection.

Is this really something to be afraid of?

As serious as this infection is, the most important thing to remember is that it is an extremely rare infection . Although this amoeba is relatively common in the environment, it rarely causes PAM.

Research has shown that many people have antibodies against this amoeba in their bodies. This suggests that we may have been exposed to this amoeba without realizing it, and our immune system may be fighting it off and protecting us.

It is often reported that children under the age of 13 and males are more likely to contract this infection. This may be because they are more likely to engage in water sports like this.

How can we protect ourselves from this?

This is the most important part. If we follow a few simple steps, we can protect ourselves 99.9% of the time from this dangerous infection.

• Avoid warm, still water: Especially during the summer, the water in rivers, lakes, and ponds becomes very warm. During such times, minimize bathing, diving, and playing in that water as much as possible.
• Protect your nose: If you are swimming, diving, or jumping in such water, be sure to cover your nose with your hand or wear a nose clip. The goal here is to prevent water from quickly entering your nose.
• Don't stir the mud at the bottom of the water: These amoebas can live in the mud and silt at the bottom of the water. So be careful not to stir the bottom when playing in the water.
• Use the right water to clean your nose: Some people use various devices for nasal cleansing. If you do, never use untreated tap water. For this, be sure to:
• Distilled water
• Sterile water
• Or, use boiled water that has been boiled for about a minute.

If you or someone you know develops symptoms such as fever, severe headache, and neck pain within a few days of swimming in a hot body of water, see a doctor immediately. Also, tell the doctor that you are not in the water. A quick response is essential.