{"id":10746,"date":"2019-08-24T06:24:51","date_gmt":"2019-08-24T06:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=10746"},"modified":"2021-04-26T16:05:55","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T16:05:55","slug":"15-frequent-symptoms-of-brain-eating-amoeba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-frequent-symptoms-of-brain-eating-amoeba\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Frequent Symptoms of Brain Eating Amoeba"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Naegleria Is an uncommon and typically fatal brain infection that occurs due to an amoeba entering the skull. The amoeba responsible for the disease usually resides in rivers, freshwater lakes, and springs across the world. Patients may experience infection while swimming in the water or partaking in watersports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amoeba responsible for the infection is known as “Naegleria fowleri.” This amoeba travels to the brain through the nose where it starts to cause severe damage to brain tissue. The amoeba is particularly aggressive, and most patients that experience infection perishes within a week of diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical Science does not have a cure for this infection. However, some people that experience an infection with the amoeba do not show any signs of sickness. Doctors are at a loss to explain why some people die, while others manage to survive with barely any symptoms. The patients that die as a result of the infection, experience a condition named “primary amebic meningoencephalitis.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient begins to show signs of meningoencephalitis within 15 days of exposure. Here are the signs and symptoms of the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Fever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first symptom of infection with brain-eating amoeba is the development of a high fever <\/a>in the affected individual. Increasing temperature is the body’s natural means of defense against viral and bacterial pathogens. The brain signals the hypothalamus to increase the presence of pyrogen proteins which attach to the end of nerves.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the patient starts to develop a high fever in an attempt to flush out the amoeba. Patients dealing with meningoencephalitis, as a result of infection with the amoeba, typically produce a temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit. This high-temperature results in the patient falling into a state of delirium. The patient may also slip in and out of consciousness and show signs of confusion when they wake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High fevers can be exceptionally dangerous, as they may cause the brain to experience a seizure, resulting in the patients slipping into a coma. Unfortunately, this is the case with many people that suffer from the effects of meningoencephalitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Chills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are experiencing the onset of meningoencephalitis, due to infection with brain-eating amoeba,\u00a0also experience the onset of chills <\/a>as the body starts to raise core temperatures. As discussed the fever is the body’s natural response to invading pathogens. The brain signals the hypothalamus to increase the presence of pyrogen proteins. These proteins attach to the nerve endings to increase the body’s temperature set point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the central nervous system increases the temperature setpoint, it takes the body a few minutes to catch up to the new temperature requirements. As a result, the patient may start to exhibit signs of chills, where they shake and begin to feel cold, even though they are dealing with a high temperature. The patient may try to cover themselves with blankets and extra clothing in an attempt to warm up. However, the additional sources of heat do not compensate for the chills, and the patient remains feeling cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the body catches up to the new temperature set point, the patient returns to the classic symptoms of high fever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Neurological Changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the brain-eating amoeba <\/a>starts to induce meningoencephalitis, the patient may begin to experience the onset of neurological changes in the brain. As the amoeba rots away brain tissue and causes a massive amount of inflammation, it starts to affect the central nervous system, as well as the neural pathways in the brain.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 As a result of these neurological changes, the patient may start to notice that they experience a disruption in their senses. The affected individual may notice that their sense of smell starts to change, and they may either experience a heightened sense of smell or loss of sense of smell, depending on the area of the brain the amoeba starts to destroy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may also develop changes in taste, with the most common symptoms related to this part of the infection being taste of sweet and sour flavors. As the condition progresses, patients start to develop sensitivity to light, which causes pain in the eyes and the onset of a headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Headache<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The onset of meningoencephalitis caused by brain-eating amoeba infection may also start to present symptoms of severe headaches. Patients notice that the headache <\/a>comes on suddenly, with unrelenting intensity, and it does not show any signs of dissipating. Patients may try to use traditional headache powders or tablets to provide relief. However, none of these over-the-counter medications will offer any reduction in the headache symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The headache symptoms will continue to intensify as the amoeba destroys areas of the brain. Even the use of prescription-strength anti-inflammatories and painkillers will provide little relief to the affected individual. The severe amount of inflammation caused by meningoencephalitis leads to a progression in the headache symptoms and many patients who require the doctor to put them into a forced coma to reduce the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Headache symptoms are another form of neurological problems experienced by the affected individual, and they often occur due to light sensitivity. Placing a mask over the eyes of the infected individual may help to reduce symptoms of headache, but this does not work in all cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Stiff Neck<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The nerves extending from the brainstem, towards the spinal column and through the face, are at risk of inflammation due to the development of meningoencephalitis. This network of nerves may start to cause the patient to experience symptoms of a stiff neck, as well as pain in their faces. As the amoeba destroys the nervous system<\/a> at the base of the brain, the symptoms will continue to intensify, and patients will notice that they have trouble turning their heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving the neck causes symptoms of pain, and it’s often due to the discs in the cervical spine compressing against the inflamed nerves. Doctors treat the symptoms using prescription-strength anti-inflammatories and painkillers to reduce the symptoms. However, the symptoms continue to intensify as the amoeba destroys this area of the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the health of the nervous system in the base of the brain continues to degrade, the patient may also notice that they start to feel symptoms of tightness in the upper back as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Nausea and Vomiting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The onset of meningoencephalitis, caused by infection with brain-eating amoeba, may also start to present symptoms of vomiting <\/a>and nausea in the patient. As the amoeba destroys the area of the brain responsible for balance and control of the nervous system, the patient starts to feel symptoms of nausea. As the nausea symptoms increase, the patient may start vomit violently,\u00a0even if they do not have any food in their stomachs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat the symptoms of nausea and vomiting, using medications to mitigate the symptoms. However, considering that this is a brain issue affecting the region of the brain responsible for managing these symptoms, medication may provide little relief to the patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the persistent symptoms of nausea and vomiting may make it challenging for the patient to hold down any food, and they may require sustenance through an IV drip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients dealing with the onset of meningoencephalitis, notice a steady increase in the symptoms as the brain-eating amoeba continues its rampage inside the skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Sleepiness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meningoencephalitis caused by the brain-eating amoeba, leaves the patient feeling sleepy. The sleepiness <\/a>occurs due to a reduction in cognitive functions, as well as the destruction of neural pathways. As a result, the patient may want to sleep all the time,\u00a0provided that persistent symptoms of a headache do not keep them from falling asleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the sleepiness symptoms exhibited by patients experiencing an infection with brain-eating amoeba is a result of the brain shutting down all critical functions. The prefrontal cortex is often one of the first areas that the brain starts to shut down in its battle for survival. Along with symptoms of sleepiness, the patient may also experience severe confusion, and they may not be able to recognize why they are in the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, there is no way to stop the sleepiness and providing the patient with stimulants such as caffeine, does not create any significant difference in their physical and mental state of health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.  Balance Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the effects of meningoencephalitis start to destroy the cerebellum <\/a>at the back of the brain,\u00a0the patient may find that they begin to experience problems with balance and spatial orientation. As a result, they may have trouble getting out of bed or moving around to get to the toilet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients may also start to experience the onset of vertigo, a chronic balance problem that interferes with the patient’s sense of balance even when they are lying in bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intense light may also exacerbate the effects of the condition, and the patient may find that they also experience a disruption in fine motor skills, such as picking up a cup. As a result, the patient may miss the cup or expense tremors in the hands after picking it up. The patient may also find it challenging to complete tasks such as writing or typing on a keyboard, as they may miss the keys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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