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Kerala Issues Technical Guidelines for Diagnosis, Management of Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
Context:
Kerala’s Health Department has issued technical guidelines for the first time, for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of amoebic meningoencephalitis.
More on news:
- These guidelines, potentially the first of their kind in India for this rare but severe infection, are now mandated for all hospitals dealing with acute meningitis cases.
- Objective: To reduce the incidence of the infection and improve outcomes through early diagnosis and effective treatment.
- To further advance the understanding of amoebic meningoencephalitis, a panel will be established in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
- In the past three months, Kerala has reported five cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis in adolescents, with three fatalities.
Overview of Technical Guidelines:
- Prevention: Educate the public on risks of untreated water, improve public water quality, and regulate recreational water sources.
- Diagnosis: Watch for symptoms like severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, altered mental status, and stiff neck, use cerebrospinal fluid analysis and imaging to detect Naegleria fowleri.
- Management: Follow treatment protocols with antifungal and antiparasitic medications and manage symptoms and complications with supportive care.
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):
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- Hospital Guidelines: All hospitals are required to adhere to these SOPs when dealing with cases of acute meningitis.
- Training and Capacity Building: Ensure that healthcare professionals are trained in recognizing and managing amoebic meningoencephalitis.
About Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM):
- It is a disease caused by the infection with Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba often referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba.”
- N. fowleri is a free-living ameba.
- An ameba is a single-celled living organism.
- Amebae can travel up the nose and into the brain.
- This infection destroys brain tissue, leading to severe brain swelling and death in most cases.
- Causes: PAM usually occurs when people swim in warm freshwater bodies (such as lakes and streams/rivers).
- Infection occurs rarely if contaminated water enters the nose, especially under pressure (e.g., during diving).
- Swallowing contaminated water does not cause PAM.
- Naegleria fowleri cannot be spread from person to person.
- Prevention: To prevent PAM, avoid swimming in untreated freshwater, especially during warm weather.
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