Brain-Eating Parasite?!!? EEEK!!

[KristyHall]

Quote:
there was an article somewhere that said it's been found in swimming pools

 

[yinepu]

I'll never have to worry about a brain eating parasite.. I only have one brain cell.. and the dust bunnies lost it somewhere a few years ago...

 

[SarahFair]

You stop!

Im living in fear now!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Isn't this whats normally called bacterial meningitis?

You should never worry about what makes it on the news. By definition if its news then it almost never happens. Its the stuff that don't make the news that will more likely get you.

 

[serendipity22]

Wow, this is pretty interesting.
The scariest thing I had to worry about when I was growing up and swimming in the many lakes around my house was a water moccasin chasing us outta the water... Or sighting an alligator.

 

[dewey]

Quote:
This is caused by a parasite and is always fatal (well, except in 1 case), while bacterial meningitis is caused by a bacteria.

CDC says there's about 3 cases of it a year in the U.S. and they don't know why it targets only some people. The one little boy that died from it recently was dunked under the same water that many others were exposed to. Sometimes things that are extremely rare make the news for that reason.

It's been found in well pipes, house pipes that are on city water, pools, lots of common places.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Its an amoeba. Antibiotics don't work on it. It is actually a much more sophisticated life form than a bacteria. Fungal and amoebic meningitis are much harder to treat than bacterial. The issue is the blood/brain barrier and getting drugs into the tissues where they are needed.

Just one more lovely thing to have to worry about....bring on the zombies!

 

[cat1994]

Quote:
x2 I love to swim in lakes and ponds I don't think I'm going to stop just b/c of these gross things

 

[dewey]

My child's very young step-sibling developed fungal meningitis that caused many strokes, partial blindness, brain damage, sterility, and many other things...and that was with "successful" treatment in the hospital for around 6 months and which is needed daily lifelong with still a high risk of death at any time...I can't even begin to imagine the helplessness a loved one would feel to have a child dx'd with this other untreatable very rare type.

 

[nurseshelly]

Quote:
We had the two kids here in Phx that died from this amoeba when their water company didn't chlorinate their water in the summer. The water company used water from a well if I remember correctly. Both kids got it in their bath tubs. Usually you are damaged to much to live by the time the pathology comes back. I think the only time you live through it is if they suspect it is that and treat you before the pathology comes back. I don't ever put my head underwater in lakes.