Swimming with death: Naegleria fowleri infections in recreational waters

Summary Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater environments such as hot springs, lakes, natural mineral water, and resort spas frequented by tourists. N. fowleri is the etiologic agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), an acute fatal disease of the ce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Travel medicine and infectious disease 2010-07, Vol.8 (4), p.201-206
Main Author: Heggie, Travis W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amebicides - therapeutic use
Amphotericin B - therapeutic use
Central nervous system
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections - diagnosis
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections - drug therapy
Climate change
Cysts
Fatalities
Freshwater environments
Hot springs
Humans
Infectious Disease
Microbiology
Mineral water
Naegleria fowleri
Primary ameobic meningoencephalitis
Recreational waters
Resorts & spas
Swimming
Swimming pools
Tourist
Travel
Travel Medicine
Water skiing
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Summary:Summary Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater environments such as hot springs, lakes, natural mineral water, and resort spas frequented by tourists. N. fowleri is the etiologic agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), an acute fatal disease of the central nervous system that results in death in approximately seven days. Previously thought to be a rare condition, the number of reported PAM cases is increasing each year. PAM is difficult to diagnose because the clinical signs of the disease are similar to bacterial meningitis. Thus, the key to diagnosis is physician awareness and clinical suspicion. With the intent of creating awareness among travel medicine practitioners and the tourism industry, this review focuses on the presenting features of N. fowleri and PAM and offers insight into the prevention and treatment of the disease.
ISSN:1477-8939
1873-0442
DOI:10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.06.001