Kerala: Teenager survives rare brain

In a remarkable turn of events, a 14-year-old boy from Kerala, Afnan Jasim, has become one of the few individuals globally to survive an infection caused by the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Afnan's infection is believed to have occurred after swimming in a contaminated local pond in June. His symptoms emerged five days later, prompting his father, MK Siddiqui, to connect the dots between his son's condition and information he had encountered on social media regarding the amoeba. Siddiqui, a dairy farmer, was initially researching the Nipah virus when he stumbled upon a public awareness campaign about Naegleria fowleri. This timely information proved crucial, as it enabled Afnan's doctors to diagnose the disease within 24 hours of symptom onset. Dr. Rauf, Afnan's physician, emphasized the importance of Siddiqui's input regarding his son's swimming activity, which facilitated a swift diagnosis and treatment. Following the diagnosis, doctors conducted tests that confirmed the presence of the amoeba in Afnan's cerebrospinal fluid. They promptly administered a combination of antimicrobial drugs directly into his spine, a treatment that, while rare in India, is not prohibitively expensive. The case highlights the significance of public health awareness campaigns, particularly in regions where such infections have previously led to fatalities. Kerala has seen cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in the past, prompting health officials to take action after two deaths were reported in local hospitals. The recent awareness campaign, which Siddiqui encountered, aims to educate the public about the risks associated with contaminated water sources.