A Review Conventional and Herbal medicine treating Brain-Eating Amoeba (Naegleria fowleri)

Abstract

The brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, is a free-living, thermophilic protozoan responsible for Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but rapidly fatal infection of the central nervous system. The organism is commonly found in warm freshwater environments and infects humans when contaminated water enters the nasal cavity. Following nasal entry, the amoeba migrates along the olfactory nerve to the brain, where it causes extensive inflammation, tissue necrosis, and cerebral edema. Clinical symptoms typically begin within one week of exposure and progress quickly from headache and fever to seizures, coma, and death. Diagnosis is challenging due to symptom overlap with bacterial meningitis and the rapid progression of the disease. Current treatment involves aggressive combination therapy using antifungal and ant parasitic drugs such as amphotericin B and miltefosine, along with intensive supportive care; however, the mortality rate remains above 95%. Preventive strategies, including proper water treatment and public awareness, are crucial in reducing infection risk. Continued research into early diagnostic methods and novel therapeutic approaches, including plant-based compounds, is essential to improve survival outcomes.