The Most Horrible Parasite: Brain Eating Amoeba
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell・2 minutes read
Naegleria fowleri, a deadly amoeba that thrives in fresh water but can also survive in various water sources, enters the body through the nose and targets nerve cells in the brain, causing severe symptoms and often leading to death. Despite its rarity and specific conditions required for infection, Naegleria fowleri poses a minimal public health risk due to its low likelihood of transmission.
Insights
- Naegleria fowleri, a deadly amoeba, thrives in fresh water but can survive in various water sources, entering the body through the nose to attack brain cells, triggering severe symptoms and often leading to death.
- Despite its lethal potential, infections by Naegleria fowleri are rare and pose a minimal public health risk due to specific conditions required for entry into the body, highlighting the importance of understanding the unique battle between this microbe and the human immune system.
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Recent questions
What is Naegleria fowleri and where does it reside?
Naegleria fowleri is a deadly amoeba primarily found in fresh water but can also survive in improperly treated water sources like pipes, swimming pools, and fountains.
How does Naegleria fowleri enter the human body?
Naegleria fowleri enters the body through the nose, targeting nerve cells due to its attraction to acetylcholine, a chemical released by olfactory nerve cells.
What symptoms does an infection by Naegleria fowleri cause?
Infections by Naegleria fowleri lead to severe symptoms like headaches, fever, seizures, and hallucinations due to the destructive process of the amoeba attacking brain cells.
How does the immune system respond to Naegleria fowleri infection?
The immune system responds to Naegleria fowleri infection by causing inflammation, leading to fluid buildup in the brain as it battles the amoeba, ultimately resulting in the destruction of brain cells.
How common are infections by Naegleria fowleri in humans?
Infections by Naegleria fowleri are rare, with only a few hundred cases reported in recent decades, making it a minimal public health risk despite its deadly nature.
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Summary
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Deadly Amoeba: Rare Threat to Humans
- A war between monsters has been ongoing for billions of years, with Naegleria fowleri being a deadly amoeba that poses a threat to humans.
- Naegleria fowleri is a microbe that primarily resides in fresh water but can also survive in improperly treated water sources like pipes, swimming pools, and fountains.
- The amoeba enters the body through the nose, targeting nerve cells due to its attraction to acetylcholine, a chemical released by olfactory nerve cells.
- Once in the brain, Naegleria fowleri begins a destructive process, multiplying and attacking brain cells while evading the immune system's defenses.
- The immune system responds by causing inflammation, leading to fluid buildup in the brain and severe symptoms like headaches, fever, seizures, and hallucinations.
- The battle between the immune system and the amoeba results in the destruction of brain cells, ultimately leading to death in up to 97% of cases.
- Despite its deadly nature, infections by Naegleria fowleri are rare, with only a few hundred cases reported in recent decades.
- While the amoeba remains a horrifying threat, the likelihood of infection is low, requiring specific conditions for entry into the body, making it a minimal public health risk.
