Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis history and symptoms: Difference between revisions
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Balamuthia can also cause a widespread infection involving multiple body parts. | Balamuthia can also cause a widespread infection involving multiple body parts. | ||
The disease might appear mild at first but can become more severe over weeks to several months[ | The disease might appear mild at first but can become more severe over weeks to several months [3], with a death rate of more than 95%[4]. Overall, the outlook for people who get this disease is poor, although early diagnosis and treatment may increase the chances for survival[4]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 20:55, 4 December 2012
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Balamuthia infection is very rare. The Balamuthia amebas can infect the skin, sinuses, brain and other organs of the body. Therefore, Balamuthia infection can cause a wide range of symptoms. Disease can begin with a skin wound on the face, trunk, or limbs and can then progress to the brain where it cause a disease called Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE)[1,2].
History and Symptoms
- Headache
- Low-grade fever
- Mood swings
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Focal neurological deficits (such as hemiparesis or cranial neuropathy)
- Meningeal irritation (such as stiff neck)
Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as nausea and vomiting are common [1]
Other signs of Balamuthia GAE may include:
- Behavioral changes
- Seizures
- Weight loss
- Partial paralysis
- Speech difficulties
- Difficulty walking
Balamuthia can also cause a widespread infection involving multiple body parts.
The disease might appear mild at first but can become more severe over weeks to several months [3], with a death rate of more than 95%[4]. Overall, the outlook for people who get this disease is poor, although early diagnosis and treatment may increase the chances for survival[4].
References
- ↑ Martinez AJ, Visvesvara GS, Chandler FW. Free-living amebic infections. Chapter 132 in Pathology of Infectious Diseases, 1997, Connor DH, Chandler FW, Manz HJ, Schwartz DA, Lack EE, eds., Stamford, Appleton & Lange, pp 1163-1176.
2. Perez MT, Bush LM. Fatal amebic encephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris in an immunocompetent host: a clinicopathological review of pathogenic free-living amebae in human hosts. Ann Diagn Pathol. Dec 2007;11(6):440-447.
3. Maciver SK. The threat from Balamuthia mandrillaris. J Med Microbiol. Jan 2007;56(Pt 1):1-3.
4. Visvesvara GS, Moura H, Schuster FL. Pathogenic and opportunistic free-living amoebae: Acanthamoeba spp. , Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri, and Sappinia diploidea. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. Jun 2007;50(1):1-26.
5. Siddiqui R, Khan NA. Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis: an emerging disease with fatal consequences. Microb Pathog. Feb 2008;44(2):89-97.