Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis: A Case Report
10.3347/kjp.2019.57.3.291
- Author:
Minhua CHEN
1
;
Wei RUAN
;
Lingling ZHANG
;
Bangchuan HU
;
Xianghong YANG
Author Information
1. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China. hubangchuanicu@163.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Naegleria fowleri;
primary amebic meningoencephalitis;
cerebral hernia;
amphotericin B
- MeSH:
Adult;
Amoeba;
Amphotericin B;
Brain Edema;
Central Nervous System Infections;
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections;
Diagnosis;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Encephalitis;
Encephalocele;
Fresh Water;
Humans;
Male;
Meningoencephalitis;
Naegleria fowleri;
Seasons;
Soil
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2019;57(3):291-294
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Primary amebic encephalitis (PAM) is a devastating central nervous system infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba, which can survive in soil and warm fresh water. Here, a 43-year-old healthy male was exposed to warm freshwater 5 days before the symptom onset. He rapidly developed severe cerebral edema before the diagnosis of PAM and was treated with intravenous conventional amphotericin B while died of terminal cerebral hernia finally. Comparing the patients with PAM who has similar clinical symptoms to those with other common types of meningoencephalitis, this infection is probably curable if treated early and aggressively. PAM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of purulent meningoencephalitis, especially in patients with recent freshwater-related activities during the hot season.
