A five-year-old boy from the Moonniyur panchayat in northern Malappuram district has been diagnosed with a rare brain infection caused by free-living amoebae found in contaminated water. The boy is currently receiving treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College, as confirmed by Health Minister Veena George.
The child, suffering from Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), developed symptoms of fever, headache, and vomiting on May 10 after bathing in a local pond on May 1. Following initial treatment at several private hospitals, his condition worsened, leading to his admission to the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital on May 12. Minister George emphasized that all possible medical care is being provided, though there is no specific medication for this rare infection.
The boy's family members are also under medical surveillance as a precautionary measure. Health authorities have launched efforts to identify others who might have used the same pond recently. Experts explain that the infection occurs when free-living, non-parasitic amoebae enter the body through the nose, subsequently reaching the brain. This infection, although rare, has severe consequences, with primary symptoms including fever, headache, vomiting, and seizures.
Medical professionals strongly advise the public to avoid bathing in contaminated water to prevent such infections. This case follows previous instances reported in the coastal Alappuzha district in 2017 and 2023. The disease first appeared in Kerala in 2016, with a total of five cases reported to date, the latest being the current one in Malappuram.
In a related incident reported by IANS, a five-year-old girl from the same district has also been diagnosed with PAM and is currently on ventilator support at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Her condition deteriorated after initial local treatment, prompting her to transfer to the specialized facility. She, too, had bathed in the Moonniyur lake.
District health authorities have increased surveillance and are working to identify all individuals who might have used the lake recently. Four of the girl's family members are under observation to monitor for any signs of the infection.
PAM is caused by amoebae commonly found in warm, contaminated water bodies. When water containing these amoebae is forcefully inhaled through the nose, the organisms can travel to the brain, causing severe and often fatal infections. The infection progresses rapidly, beginning with fever, headache, and nausea, and can lead to more severe symptoms such as seizures as it advances.
The Health Department has issued warnings to the public to be cautious and avoid bathing in potentially contaminated water sources. They stress the importance of immediate medical attention if symptoms consistent with PAM appear, especially following exposure to untreated water.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
