Brain-Eating Amoeba

The term "brain-eating amoeba" commonly refers to Naegleria fowleri, a rare but deadly free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes, hot springs, and poorly maintained swimming pools. Infection occurs when contaminated water enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the...

• Naegleria fowleri, a "brain-eating amoeba," is a free-living amoeba found in warm, fresh water, causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a severe CNS infection. The infection is not spread through fecal matter or person-to-person contact, but rather enters through the olfactory nerves via contaminated water. While rare, PAM has a high fatality rate, exceeding 95%. Since 1962, less than 500 cases have been documented globally, likely due to its non-contagious nature. Recent outbreaks, particularly in Kerala, India, show an increase in cases compared to previous years.