A case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in children caused by Naegleria fowleri

VernacularTitle:儿童福氏耐格里阿米巴脑膜脑炎1例
Author: Yongwei DUAN ¹ ; Dongxu LI ; Jin ZHAO ; Hui SHEN ; Guangming YE ; Yirong LI ; Wen XIE
Author Information

1. 武汉大学中南医院检验科，武汉　430071
Keywords: Cerebrospinal fluid; Microscopy; Trophozoite; Naegleria fowleri
From: Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;47(6):693-697
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: A 14-year-old boy presented with coma and convulsion following a 3-day high fever of unknown origin was initially diagnosed with a central nervous system infection with uncertain pathogen. Direct microscopic examination of wet slides of cerebrospinal fluid cytology revealed active amoeboid trophozoites with different shapes. The amoeba trophozoite could be seen at high magnification after Wright′s-Giemsa staining. A diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis was made according to the cellular morphology results of the cerebrospinal fluid, imaging data, and clinical symptoms. After high-throughput gene detection targeting the infection pathogen and specific PCR verification of amoeba species, it was confirmed that the infection was caused by Naegleria fowleri. Timely antiamoebic treatment and other related treatments were implemented, but the patient progressed to brain death after 50 days, leading to the discontinuation of treatment by the family.