A 12-year-old boy from Padoor, Thrissur, has been diagnosed with amoebic meningitis, making it the fifth case reported in Kerala within the past two months. The young patient, a seventh grader, has shown significant improvements in his health despite the initial severity of his condition.

The Thrissur District Medical Officer reported that the boy, who was on ventilator support in June, is now stable and continues to receive treatment at a hospital in Kochi. The infection, identified as a less severe strain of the brain-eating amoeba Vermamoeba Vermiformis, was confirmed after cerebrospinal fluid tests conducted in Puducherry, according to a report by Manorama.

Initially seeking medical help for a fever at a primary health center on June 1, the boy's condition worsened, leading to his transfer to a private medical college in Thrissur and subsequently to the Government Medical College Hospital. Despite extensive investigations, the source of the infection remains unclear, as the boy had not been swimming in any natural water bodies.

In the last two months, Kerala has reported five cases of amoebic meningitis. Recently, a 14-year-old boy from Kozhikode was diagnosed with the infection and is currently undergoing treatment. Unfortunately, three other children who contracted the infection earlier did not survive. A five-year-old girl from Malappuram died on May 21, a 13-year-old girl from Kannur on June 25, and a 12-year-old boy from Kozhikode on July 4, according to Deccan Herald.

What is Amoebic Meningoencephalitis?

Amoebic meningoencephalitis, often known as a brain-eating amoeba infection, is caused by amoebae such as Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba species. The infection typically occurs through exposure to contaminated water. Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, altered mental status, and hallucinations, usually appearing within 1-9 days of exposure. The disease progresses rapidly and can be fatal within 1-12 days after symptoms begin.

Health officials advise caution when swimming in warm freshwater bodies, particularly during the summer. The use of nose clips in swimming pools is recommended to prevent infection by free-living amoebae.

The disease had previously been reported in Kerala's coastal Alappuzha district in 2023 and 2017.