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Primary amebic meningoencephalitis: a silent killer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Isaac Grate Jr.
Isaac Grate Jr.*
Affiliation:
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, LBJ General Hospital, Houston, Texas
*
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, LBJ General Hospital, 5656 Kelley St., Rm. 1EC93006, Houston TX 77026

Abstract

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One week after swimming in a man-made lake, a 9-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with headache, vomiting and lethargy. He had neck pain upon flexion and was unable to stand or walk. Cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed trophozoite and diflagellate forms consistent with Naegleria fowleri, an ameba species known to cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Despite aggressive management with amphotericin B and rifampin, he died 2 days later. This case report describes the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and management of this uncommon but lethal entity.

Keywords

Naegleria fowleriprimary amebic meningoencephalitistrophozoiteamphoterici B
Type
Case Report • Observations de cas
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 8 , Issue 5 , September 2006 , pp. 365 - 369
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2006

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