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Brain-Eating Amoeba Explained | Symptoms, Spread & How to Stay Safe | Everything You Must Know

Brain-Eating Amoeba Explained: How It Spreads, Symptoms & How to Stay Safe Everything You Need to Know Kerala is facing a serious health crisis as cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by the brain-eating amoeba (Naegleria fowleri), surge. In 2025 alone, 69 infections and 19 deaths have been reported, a sharp increase from previous years. PAM is a rare but deadly infection where the amoeba enters the brain through the nose, often during swimming, diving, or bathing in untreated freshwater. Early symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting, progressing rapidly to stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. Death often occurs within 1–18 days due to severe brain swelling. Kerala’s health authorities have improved survival to around 24–30% using early diagnosis, miltefosine treatment, amphotericin B, and intensive supportive care. Prevention remains key: avoid untreated freshwater, use nose clips, boil water for nasal rinses, chlorinate swimming pools, and maintain hygiene. Awareness campaigns and hospital protocols are helping curb fatalities.

first published: Sep 20, 2025 10:04 am