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The so-called amoeba comecerebros has generated a strong fuss in societies where cases have recently been detected.
It's a free amoeba, which can survive and reproduce in the wild without the need of a host, which causes the primary amoeba meningoencephalitis, a central nervous system infection that occurs when l & # 39; The amoeba colonizes it.
The fact that only 13 people have survived to date and that the death rate of the latter is 98% is impressive data for the population and makes understandable the generalized worries. But we must remain calm and for that, we tell you what it is, what are the causes and the symptoms and how to treat the "formidable" amoeba.
One of the most striking data is that Naegleria fowleri only affects the human body if it reaches the brain, and for this it must be introduced into the body by penetrating into the neuro epithelium. -fun, indicates Very interesting.
In other words, the amoeba enters through the nose and, once it reaches the brain, secretes a series of enzymes that degrade it and cause wounds and haemorrhages. This in turn results in other symptoms of meningitis, such as headache, high fever, stiff neck … and may be paralysis or seizure at a later stage and before you get sick. ;cause death.
Jacob Lorenzo Morales, parasitologist at the University of La Laguna (Canary Islands) and one of the leading researchers in the case of the Toledo girl, states that the "amoeba" is able to colonize the brain quickly, degrade it and cause the death of the patient between 24 and 72 hours later. "
Where does it come from and what does it affect?
This type of amoeba tends to be more prevalent and to proliferate in warm, untreated waters, such as lakes, lagoons, geothermal waters, untreated pools or rivers, and cases of unplanned water. infection are related to recreational activities in these waters. to dive into these, allowing contaminated water to enter through the nose and amoebae into the brain.
As often happens with this type of disease, "they tend to reach more children under 12" or older people, but the reason is that the immune system of children is still developing and that its cribosa plate is more porous. In the case of the elderly, the body's defenses are weaker, resulting in less resistance to damage.
"In the United States and Australia, posters are already placed in untreated waters to prevent possible contagion Prevention is the key."
Treatment and control
It is usually possible to deal with diseases from different angles and at different times, which can be summed up in two: before infection (prevention) and after (treatment).
In the first phase, you can browse a wide range of options ranging from specific international legislation, which in the case of the amoeba comecerebros is only fulfilled in Mexico and Australia by control of water; investing in new research or drug control systems to detect it as quickly as possible.
In the later cases, a culture and PCR system (molecular technique) was used in parallel, which allowed to act in time in the case of the Spanish girl infected in October 2018.
For Jacob Lorenzo Morales, "the synchronized team work of all the entities and professionals involved" is a key element to save the patient's life.
If the second stage is reached and the person is infected, the most common treatment for controlling comecerebros amoebae is amphotericin B, an antibiotic and antifungal isolated at the origin of the bacterial species Streptomyces nodosus. To be more specific, the treatment usually used is a cocktail of antifungals, antimicrobials and antiparasites containing this drug, as well as other drugs such as rifampicin or mitefosine.
"The important thing is to stop the amoeba in its progression, because if it is not carried out, the patient ends up dying in a few days," says Lorenzo Morales.
Amphotericin B has certain side effects for the human body, including toxicity to the liver and, mainly, the kidneys. This toxicity is "related to the dose administered and the duration of treatment".
Are there reasons for social alert?
Between 1962 and 2016, only 143 cases were detected in the United States and, since its discovery, just over 400 people have been affected. Despite this, by the end of the summer of 2018, several cases have been reported in Australia, the United States, Argentina and Spain.
This increase is due, according to Jacob Lorenzo Morales, that "the improvement of the knowledge on the amoeba" makes it easier to detect, but that the global warming has increased the conditions of warm waters where they develop.
Even with this possible increase, Lorenzo Morales believes that "there is no need to create a panic situation." More than 80% of the population has antibodies against these amoebae "and even when global cases have increased" is still considered a disease. rare. "
More than 80% of the population has antibodies against these amoebae.
"I think it should be useful to the entire population, to scientists and clinical staff as well as to the relevant authorities, to sensitize everyone to their presence and to debate the question of knowing if we should decide to strengthen the control of recreational waters in our country and internationally. "
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