Kozhikode : It was a ‘coming-back to life’ moment for14-year-old Afnan Jasim hailing from Payyoli in Kozhikode after the hospital released the news that he has recovered from amoebic meningoencephalitis, caused by brain-eating amoeba, a disease with a 97 percent mortality rate. State Health Minister Veena George later officially announced that the 14-year-old boy undergoing treatment for the disease has recovered, marking a rare occurrence in the country given the high mortality rate.
As per an official statement, when the case was initially reported on July 1st, a meeting was convened by health minister Health Minister Veena George and a cautionary alert was issued by the health department. Veena George while speaking to media stated that only 11 people worldwide have recovered from amoebic meningoencephalitis and praised the team that led the coordination and treatment efforts. Free-living amoebae cause this highly rare but extremely lethal central nervous system infection, typically contracted from freshwater sources like lakes, rivers and streams.
The boy’s journey to recovery started when health workers at a Primary Health Center suspected his symptoms could indicate brain fever. Acting swiftly, they alerted the necessary authorities. On the same day, the boy experienced epileptic seizures and was admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode. The health department promptly delivered Miltefosine, a critical drug for treating this condition, which played a crucial role in his recovery over the following 22 days.
Dr Abdul Rauf, consultant paediatric, intensivist, Baby Memorial hospital who had been treating the 14-year-old boy spoke to News9 and said that in this case the game changer was the earlier diagnosis and treatment that helped the boy recover from the rare disease that has a high mortality rate.
“The boy was admitted in our hospital with severe headache and fever. By night 9pm, that is June 30th he developed seizures, fits and he was taken to the nearby hospital where he was given primary care. He had a swimming history four days back and there was a suspicion that he was infected with meningitis and hence they referred to us. Within 24 hours of the onset of the symptoms, we confirmed the Amoebic meningitis from our hospital and we started the treatment. From Day 3, he started showing improvement. Compared to the previous case here the diagnosis was very early and the treatment was initiated very early and the drug Miltefosine which was not available before was made available through government intervention”, said Dr Rauf to News9.
“From then within three days he improved significantly and after that we conducted a liver function test from where we understood that the amoeba was clear and the repeat PCR was negative. We gave three weeks of in-hospital treatment and later discharged him. Our plan is to continue oral medicine for one more week”, he added.
He stated that the game changer as early detection and treatment.
The boy’s journey to recovery started when health workers at a Primary Health Center suspected his symptoms could indicate brain fever. Acting swiftly, they alerted the necessary authorities. On the same day, the boy experienced epileptic seizures and was admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
