A three-and-a-half-year-old boy from Thayyil, a locality in Kerala’s Kannur district, has been diagnosed with a severe amoebic infection. He was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kozhikode after experiencing fever and seizures, prompting immediate medical investigation.
Specialized PCR testing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples at a Thiruvananthapuram laboratory conclusively confirmed the presence of amoeba species. This alarming discovery has raised significant concerns about amoebic meningoencephalitis, a brain infection that, while rare, carries a very high risk of fatality.
According to health officials, the child had been suffering from a fever for three days and experienced two seizure episodes before being hospitalized. Thankfully, his current condition in the general ward is reported as stable, and he is receiving appropriate medical care.
“The child’s condition is being closely monitored and is currently under control; we have initiated the necessary treatment protocols,” stated a source from the Health department.
This case in Kannur adds to a worrying trend of sporadic amoebic infections reported throughout Kerala. The state has already recorded over 100 confirmed cases and 23 deaths from these infections. Prior instances have been noted in other districts, including Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, and Kozhikode.
In response to these outbreaks, the Health department has escalated its efforts, intensifying environmental testing and implementing widespread chlorination drives, particularly in areas susceptible to contamination from stagnant water. Public health advisories strongly recommend that residents avoid bathing in untreated water and ensure that wells are properly chlorinated.
Medical experts emphasize that Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the ‘brain-eating amoeba,’ flourishes in warm freshwater environments. The amoeba typically enters the human body through the nose, leading to severe infections of the brain and spinal cord. Children and individuals with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to this dangerous pathogen.