A 26-year old Israeli man is being treated for a brain-eating amoeba in the second ever case in the country’s history.
The patient was admitted to hospital on Tuesday with a fever, headache, and vomiting. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and the rare diagnosis was made following a series of comprehensive tests.
The amoeba – Naeglera fowleri – thrives in warm water, and swimmers are most likely to fall victim as the amoeba enters the brain through the nasal cavity. Once inhaled, the amoeba travels up to the brain, where it digests red blood cells and neurons.
The last time Naeglera fowleri was diagnosed in Israel, the patient had already died, and the key to successful treatment is to act fast. The amoeba is treated with antifungals, which the patient in Israel is currently receiving.
