Brain eating amoeba briefly explained #neetpg #fmge #mbbs

Added: 2026-05-07

Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba, is a free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater environments that can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but fatal brain infection. The amoeba enters the body through the nose, travels to the brain, and causes severe inflammation and tissue destruction. Symptoms include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, and confusion, typically appearing within 1-9 days after exposure. The infection is most common in children and young adults during summer months when swimming in warm freshwater. Prevention involves avoiding swimming in infested waters and not forcing water up the nose.