7-year-old boy dies in California after contracting ‘brain-eating’ amoeba

David Pruitt, a seven-year-old boy, died in California (United States) a few days after contracting an infection from the parasite Naegleria fowleri, transmitted by water, also called amoeba “start the brains”.

The minor was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis amebiana primaria (PAM, for its acronym in English), on July 30 after being hospitalized in Tehama County, where he was born.

This was said by his aunt Crystal Hayley, who also confirmed the news of David’s death on August 7th. “We are saddened and heartbroken to announce that our adorable little David has passed away,” the family said on the site. GoFundMe.

What is the ‘brain-eating’ amoeba that killed a girl in the United States

On this page, the Pruitt family had initiated a request for donations to cover the hospital costs of the baby, who since the end of July had been connected to a ventilator due to the inflammation that the parasite was producing in his brain. The family, who have two other children, could not afford the costs of their hospitalization.

“Now he is in the loving arms of our Lord and members of his family who passed away before him. We are reassured to know that he is no longer in pain and that he is in the best care,” they detailed on the site. about his death. .

In addition, her aunt asked on behalf of the family to visit the site Kyle Cares Amoeba Awareness, the website of the foundation which bears the name of Kyle lewis, died at the age of 10 from the same parasite. It specifies the dangers of this infection, the signs and symptoms to detect it and how to prevent it. “Take the time to learn the symptoms and share the information with as many people as you can.”They asked those around David.

This is the “brain-eating amoeba”, a dangerous parasite which has already claimed a victim in Argentina

How the ‘brain-eating’ amoeba spreads and what are its symptoms

This strange organism called Naegleria fowleri was born in fresh, temperate and stagnant waters, such as lakes, ponds, ponds, swimming pools, hot springs and irrigation canals. It grows best at high temperatures up to 46 ° C and can survive for short periods at higher temperatures. The only way for the “amoeba” to enter the body is through the nose. Later it rises to the brain and begins to destroy brain tissue.

The infection causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, the symptoms of which may be similar to those of bacterial meningitis. In the following days – between 1 and 7 – headache, sensitivity to light (photophobia), fever, nausea or vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, inattention, loss of balance, convulsions and hallucinations appear, among others.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends seeing a doctor when people who think they have the infection have a fever, headache, and vomiting, especially if they’ve recently been swimming in water. soft and warm water. The disease is not contagious or contracted by drinking contaminated water, although it is dangerous: in the United States, only four people out of 145 known cases survived between 1962 and 2018.

According to CDC data, Naegleria fowleri infections are rare: 34 infections were reported in this country from 2010 to 2019. In California, where David Pruitt was from, only 10 cases have been recorded since 1971, according to a statement. August 4 press release. Tehama County Health Services Agency published by the newspaper Daily mail.

The case that was recorded in Argentina

In 2018, it was confirmed that this parasite had caused the death of a child in the city of General Alvear in Buenos Aires. The boy suffered from headaches and vomiting after swimming in a lagoon in Vedia, near Junín, as well as photophobia and sonophobia.

The contagion occurred in February 2017, but researchers did not confirm the news until a year after the investigations. The International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) reported that this was the first case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAD).