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Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis after swimming in the Rio Grande
T S DeNapoli1, J Y Rutman, J R Robinson
1Santa Rosa Children's Hospital, San Antonio, TX 78207-3198, USA.
Texas Medicine
|October 1, 1996
Summary
A fatal case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Naegleria fowleri occurred in a child after swimming in the Rio Grande. Sewage-polluted river water is implicated as the source, highlighting risks of recreational water exposure.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare and often fatal infection of the central nervous system.
- Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater environments.
Observation:
- A 13-year-old male contracted PAM after swimming in the Rio Grande and a river-fed holding tank.
- Clinical presentation and diagnostic autopsy revealed characteristic neuropathologic features of PAM.
Findings:
- Microscopic identification of Naegleria fowleri with broad, lobate pseudopodia confirmed the diagnosis.
- Public health investigation identified sewage-polluted Rio Grande water as the likely source of infection.
- Warm, sluggish water with high coliform counts creates favorable conditions for Naegleria fowleri proliferation.
Implications:
- Exposure to polluted recreational waters, such as the Rio Grande, poses a risk for Naegleria fowleri infection.
- Timely diagnosis based on microscopic identification is crucial for potential treatment.
- International cooperation in pollution control is essential for preventing infectious diseases along shared borders.