primary amoebic meningoencephalitis

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare, often fatal brain infection caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri. This single-celled organism is found in warm freshwater and soil globally.1

PAM occurs when N. fowleri enters the nose, typically during water-related activities like swimming or diving. The amoeba travels along the olfactory nerve to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue.1

Initial symptoms include fever, headache, and vomiting, progressing to severe neurological issues like confusion, seizures, and coma. The infection is almost always fatal, with death usually occurring within five days of symptom onset. Prevention involves keeping water out of the nose and ensuring proper water chlorination.12