For the family of two-year-old Woodrow, a bathing trip ended in absolute tragedy. Because the little boy comes into contact with Naegleria fowleri – brain-eating parasites – while bathing in a hot spring.
He dies just a few days later.
Brain-eating parasites in warm waters
“It all happened very quickly,” recalls little Woodrow’s aunt. Because when the family takes the two-year-old to a hot spring in the US state of Nevada, they have no idea which one dangers in the water wait. A short time later, Woodrow developed “flu-like symptoms, fever – just like any other illness that a little boy could get,” recalls the aunt.
But it didn’t stop with the supposedly harmless symptoms. Because Woodrow came into contact with Naegleria fowleri; Parasites that mostly live in warm waters. She enter the brain through the nose and then attack it. A rare disease, but one that has fatal consequences. Those affected suffer meningitis, which later leads to death. “If you’re infected, there’s a good chance you’ll die,” confirms dr. opposite Brian Labus FOX5. According to him, so far very few people have survived such an infection. Symptoms are usually fever, nausea and headache. They appear between one and twelve days after contact. Once the symptoms start, however, things go downhill drastically. Most patients die within the first 18 days after contact.
Two-year-old dies after a few days
Because once the parasites are in the body, it goes very quickly. The Naegleria fowleri multiply and destroy brain tissue. As a result, the infection progresses fairly quickly, “so that it is very difficult for the body to deal with something like this and fight it off,” says the doctor. There is no real protection or way to kill the parasites. However, experts recommend avoid diving into warm water as a precaution or not to dip your head under the water there. Nose clips when swimming can also help.
Unfortunately, Woodrow succumbed to the infection after a few days of treatment. His aunt tells the media that Parents should be informed about the parasites. But the rare Naegleria fowleri should by no means dictate life. “We shouldn’t live in fear” she emphasizes.
2023-07-24 21:50:46
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