Korean J Parasitol.  2019 Jun;57(3):291-294. 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.3.291.

Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis: A Case Report

• Chen M
• Ruan W
• Zhang L
• Hu B
• Yang X

• KMID: 2453318
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2019.57.3.291

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.

Keyword

Naegleria fowleri; primary amebic meningoencephalitis; cerebral hernia; amphotericin B

MeSH Terms

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
Amphotericin B
Soil