NewKerala.com

Key Points

An 18-year-old has been diagnosed with acanthamoeba infection after swimming in a Thiruvananthapuram pool. He initially sought treatment for fever and headache before his condition worsened. Health officials confirmed the infection through PCR testing and are investigating other possible water exposures. The swimming pool has been closed for maintenance and thorough cleaning pending test results.

Key Points: 18-Year-Old Diagnosed With Acanthamoeba After Swimming in Thiruvananthapuram

  • Youth swam without nose clip at Akkulam Tourism Village pool
  • Currently stable on miltefosine treatment at Medical College Hospital
  • Six other friends showed no symptoms after same swim
  • District has nine active amoebic meningoencephalitis cases
2 min read

18-year-old diagnosed with acanthamoeba infection in Thiruvananthapuram

An 18-year-old tests positive for rare acanthamoeba infection after swimming at Akkulam Tourism Village pool. Health officials confirm treatment and pool closure for cleaning.

"The pool will only reopen after clearance. - Health Officials"

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 14

An 18-year-old youth undergoing treatment at Government Medical College Hospital here has tested positive for acanthamoeba, one of the free-living amoebae (FLA) known to cause the rare but often fatal disease, amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Health officials on Sunday confirmed that the youth is being treated with miltefosine and remains stable.

The patient first sought treatment at a private hospital in Kanjiramkulam on August 18 for fever, headache, and giddiness.

As his condition worsened, he was shifted first to Neyyatinkara and later to a private hospital in the city.

Initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) wet mount tests showed no trophozoites, but samples sent for PCR analysis in Coimbatore confirmed acanthamoeba infection.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the youth, along with six friends, had gone swimming on August 16 in the pool at Akkulam Tourism Village, managed by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).

The case report noted that he swam and dived without a nose clip, a possible route of infection. The six others have shown no symptoms so far.

Health authorities are also probing other possible water exposures. The district currently has nine active cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Two deaths have already been reported in Thiruvananthapuram this year, both involving patients with comorbidities.

Last year, 20 cases were recorded in the district, with clustering confirmed in seven of them.

In response, DTPC has closed the pool for maintenance and thorough cleaning. Water samples have been collected and sent to the public health laboratory for PCR testing, with results expected within two days. Officials stressed that the pool will only reopen after clearance.

Past diagnostic records indicate that different free-living amoebae have been responsible for infections in Kerala.

Between 2019 and 2023, Naegleria fowleri was detected in four cases in Malappuram, Thrissur, and Alappuzha. In 2024, a mix of Naegleria fowleri, Vermamoeba vermicularis, and Acanthamoeba infections was confirmed in patients across Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, Kollam, Kozhikode, Palakkad, and Thrissur. Some Thiruvananthapuram cases were also linked to pipe water exposure.

Health officials have urged strict monitoring of recreational and household water sources, given the persistence of these pathogens in the environment.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
As someone from Kerala, I've seen these cases increasing. The authorities need to conduct regular water testing in all public water bodies. Prevention is better than cure!
A
Arjun K
Thank God they diagnosed it correctly. Many hospitals might miss this rare infection. Good that they sent samples to Coimbatore for PCR testing. Early detection saves lives.
S
Sarah B
While the response is good, why did it take so many hospital transfers? The system needs to be more efficient in handling rare disease cases. Still, glad he's stable now.
V
Vikram M
Parents should educate children about water safety. Nose clips are essential while swimming in public pools. This could have been prevented with basic precautions.
K
Karthik V
The fact that pipe water exposure is also mentioned is concerning. This means even our drinking water sources might need better monitoring. Public health should be priority number one.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50