Naegleriasis

Category

Infection, Occupational

Acute/Chronic

Acute-Severe (life-threatening)

Synonyms

Primary amebic meningoencephalitis

Biomedical References

Comments

This ameboflagellate lives in warm, nonchlorinated, fresh water lakes, ponds, and inadequately chlorinated pools. It causes meningoencephalitis by passing through the nasal mucosa and following the olfactory nerve to the brain. [CCDM, p. 8]

Latency/Incubation

Usually causes death within 5-6 days of invading the nasal mucosa; [CCDM, p. 7]

Diagnostic

Immunohistochemical staining and PCR testing of brain tissue; [CCDM, p. 7]

ICD-9 Code

136.2

ICD-10 Code

B60.2

Effective Antimicrobics

Yes

Reference Link

Symptoms/Findings

Symptoms/Findings associated with this disease:

• confusion
• delirium
• fever
• hallucinations
• headache
• nausea, vomiting
• pharyngitis
• stiff neck
• stupor and coma

Job Tasks

High risk job tasks associated with this disease:

• Swim in contaminated water (ingestion or inhalation)
• Travel to endemic area with inadequate protection

Agents

Hazardous agents that cause the occupational disease:

• Naegleria fowleri