Kerala: 12-Yr-Old Boy From Kozhikode Infected By Brain-Eating Amoeba, Third Case This Year

A 12-year-old boy in Kozhikode district has been diagnosed with amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and often fatal brain infection caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated water. This marks the third reported case of this severe infection in Kerala since May.

The boy had bathed in a pond before contracting the infection, prompting officials to instruct the public to avoid the pond. They have also warned others who recently bathed there to remain vigilant.

The boy is currently being treated at a private hospital, where medical sources confirmed the diagnosis. According to one of the doctors involved in his care, the infection was identified promptly, and treatment commenced on the same day.

"We identified the infection in tests done at our labs and informed the District Medical Officer (DMO), who took preventive measures by closing down access to the pond where the child had bathed," the doctor stated, according to a report on PTI. The samples have been sent to a lab in Puducherry for further testing, and the official confirmation through a printed PCR report is awaited.

The doctor highlighted the severity of the disease, noting, "The disease has a mortality rate of 95-100 percent. The boy continues to be in critical condition." He added that the hospital was able to quickly identify the infection and begin treatment due to established protocols from previous cases.

Two Die Due To 'Brain-Eating Amoeba" Infection

This recent case follows two other deaths involving children due to 'brain-eating' amoeba in Kerala. On May 21, a five-year-old girl from Malappuram succumbed to the infection, and on June 25, a 13-year-old girl from Kannur also lost her life to the same disease. The current patient, admitted to Baby Memorial Hospital in Kozhikode on Monday, represents the latest instance of this deadly infection.

Amoebic meningoencephalitis, also referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba" infection, has been previously reported in Kerala's coastal Alappuzha district in 2023 and 2017. The main symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, vomiting, and seizures.