Everything you need to know about Naegleria (Bain-Eating Amoeba)

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Transcript

00:00We have with us, Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases, Dr. Tehreem Ansari.

00:06Thank you so much for joining us, Tehreem.

00:08Please tell me, basically, we talk about symptoms, but first of all,

00:16does it happen by going to swimming pools or by doing ablution?

00:21Basically, how does it…

00:22Madam, it is the same in the water of our house's tank as well as in the swimming pool.

00:26Okay, first of all, thank you for bringing up such an important topic.

00:29It is a hot topic as well, I think.

00:31You have brought it up and are working for the public's awareness.

00:36Yes, you had two questions in this.

00:37So, I will answer the first question later to tell you about the symptoms.

00:41But, where does it happen?

00:42In the soil, in the water, in the spring waters, in the swimming pools,

00:47in the water of the tank, shallow water, lakes, rivers, swimming pools,

00:50it can be present everywhere.

00:52Okay.

00:53How does it enter?

00:54One special thing about it is that as the temperature increases,

00:58it survives at higher temperatures.

01:01Oh, is it a Pakistani virus?

01:03You can say that it is a Pakistani virus.

01:06Anyway, but not in that sense.

01:09It survives at 42 degrees centigrade or 115 degrees Fahrenheit,

01:13even at higher temperatures.

01:15So, you will see that most of the cases occur in the summer,

01:19when the temperature is high.

01:20So, this is one thing.

01:22The second thing is that where does it enter?

01:25You are right, it enters through the nostrils.

01:27Especially, when we put a lot of water in the nose,

01:30it goes through the base of the skull,

01:33where there is a bone.

01:35It is like where you get the smell and everything.

01:37It crosses that and enters into the brain.

01:40Brain-eating amoeba is said to infect very quickly.

01:45It is a deadly virus.

01:47Sorry, it is not a virus, it is a deadly amoeba.

01:49So, it can kill.

01:51The studies that have been done all over the world,

01:54out of 100, 95 to 99% of the cases can't survive,

01:57but they still survive.

01:59Some cases have been reported that have survived.

02:02Last year, in our PNS Shifa, one case has survived.

02:05If it is diagnosed early, but what are the symptoms initially?

02:08Now, we come to the symptoms.

02:10So, basically, the early symptoms include severe headache, fever.

02:15Some people's smell can be altered.

02:18They can't smell.

02:20It involves those nerves.

02:22As the disease progresses, the headache worsens,

02:25there is a coma.

02:27How long is the onset?

02:29After acquiring the onset, the symptoms last for 2 days.

02:34Maximum is 15 days.

02:36But usually, most of the cases are present within 3 to 5 days.

02:39There is not much of an incubation period.

02:41Yes, it doesn't give you much time.

02:42There is a range of incubation period,

02:44but most of the cases are present within 5 days.

02:46One more thing.

02:47In this Pakistani society,

02:49everything is available over-the-counter.

02:51From anti-allergies to antibiotics,

02:55we take the entire course and then go to the doctor.

02:58This is one reason.

03:00This is one reason.

03:01Firstly, our primary health care is not as developed as it should be.

03:05So, people usually go to the quack

03:08or do home treatment.

03:09And plus the availability of antibiotics.

03:11And they take the antibiotics themselves.

03:13Exactly.

03:14So, they also present late in many cases.

03:17When the patient becomes comatose from 3 to 4 places,

03:20then they go to a tertiary care or hospital.

03:23So, usually the main cause of mortality

03:26is due to the late presentation.

03:30Is there a test for this when you go to a doctor?

03:32Yes, there is a test for this.

03:33You cannot detect it that way.

03:35For this, you have to do brain imaging

03:38to see if there is a lot of fusion.

03:41And then there is a lumbar puncture test

03:43in which the water of the spine is tested.

03:46In that, in the early stage,

03:48in the CSF, the water of the spine,

03:50you can see the fat in it.

03:52But for this, you need expertise.

03:54And you have to see it immediately.

03:55We call it VECT mount.

03:56Secondly, its PCR is available.

03:58But again, that is also in your CSF.

04:01The water of the spine.

04:03So, on this basis, its diagnosis is done.

04:05So, what are the immediate treatments?

04:07For this, there are multiple antibiotics,

04:10antibacterials,

04:11antifungals.

04:13So, this is a combination of 4 to 5 drugs.

04:16All these have to be mixed.

04:18They have to be started.

04:19Their dosage is also slightly higher than usual.

04:22So, they have to be started.

04:23As soon as possible, you will be diagnosed.

04:25As soon as you start the treatment,

04:27there are some chances of your survival.

04:29You said that in 2 days, its symptoms are obvious.

04:31Then all those tests will be done.

04:33The doctor will also take time.

04:35So, in how many days is the treatment?

04:37How much time does he have?

04:39In 2 days or 3 days?

04:41It depends.

04:43The sooner you go in the setup,

04:45the sooner the doctor will be able to diagnose you.

04:47Our doctors also become sensitized.

04:49If someone is coming like this in summer,

04:51then we try immediately

04:53to do the test of the water of the spine.

04:55It is next to impossible.

04:57I would say because the reason is

04:59that when someone comes to you,

05:01you will take it as a cold first.

05:03You will not say immediately to get brain imaging done.

05:05Because the symptoms are the same.

05:07If you get covid,

05:09cold, flu,

05:11symptoms come with headache,

05:13cold, etc.

05:15The headache is very severe.

05:17Plus, there is a time duration.

05:19At this time, you are sensitized.

05:21At this time, the cases are increasing.

05:23So, if a patient comes to me with a severe headache,

05:25a young patient,

05:27there is no other reason,

05:29headache or smell altering,

05:31then I will definitely think about it.

05:33And he can also tell that he felt that the water

05:35was very cold.

05:37This is not that common.

05:39But doctors are told a lot.

05:41But when you go to the pool,

05:43should we be careful there too?

05:45Yes, you should be careful there.

05:47The pools should be chlorinated.

05:49Chlorination is an important thing

05:51to prevent this.

05:53Secondly, we say that you should avoid

05:55such activities.

05:57But if you have to go,

05:59then use a nose clip.

06:01The water should not enter.

06:03Keep your head above the water.

06:05Use ear clips.

06:07Usually, there is not much report in the air.

06:09Most of the reports are from here.

06:11So, do these things.

06:13If you have to go outside for ablution,

06:15then take a water bottle from home.

06:17For distilled water or boiled water.

06:19You can also use this water for ablution.

06:21For ablution, you can at least put water in your nose.

06:23By the way, avoid a lot of tightness.

06:25But if you have to go,

06:27then take your water bottle with you.

06:29Some people need water to clear sinuses.

06:31For that, they use tap water or faucet water.

06:33So, for that also,

06:35you should use distilled water or boiled water.

06:39In boiled water,

06:41this parasite will die.

06:43What is recommended by CDC is

06:45that you should boil it for 1 minute.

06:47Then cool it and save it.

06:49But chlorination is the...

06:51Especially, to clear sinuses,

06:53do not make your nose a suction pump.

06:55Yes, do not do that.

06:57And use distilled water.

06:59By the way, it was a very nice thing to say

07:01that it should be chlorinated water.

07:03In our pools, may Allah forgive us,

07:05it is mostly urinated water.

07:07So, be very careful.

07:09There is a lot you can do for your hygiene.

07:11Thank you so much, Dr. Tarim.

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