Health authorities confirmed that the child had been suffering from fever for three days and experienced two episodes of seizures before hospital admission
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A three-and-a-half-year-old boy from Thayyil in Kannur district of Kerala has been diagnosed with an amoebic infection after being admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, with fever and seizures.
Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples confirmed the presence of amoeba species through PCR testing at a laboratory in Thiruvanathapuram, raising concerns of amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but potentially fatal brain infection.
Health authorities confirmed that the child had been suffering from fever for three days and experienced two episodes of seizures before hospital admission. He is currently undergoing treatment in the general ward and is reported to be stable.
“The child’s condition is under control and appropriate treatment has been initiated,“ said a Health department source.
The present case from Kannur comes amid Kerala’s rising alert over sporadic amoebic infections reported across districts, with over 100 confirmed cases and 23 deaths recorded so far. Previous cases were reported in Kollam, Thiruvanathapuram, Malappuram, and Kozhikode districts.
The Health department has intensified environmental testing and chlorination drives in areas vulnerable to contamination from stagnant water sources. Public advisories urge residents to avoid bathing in untreated water and ensure proper chlorination of wells.
Medical experts note that Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as “brain-eating amoeba”, thrives in warm fresh water and can enter the body through the nose, leading to infection of the brain and spinal cord. Children and immunocompromised individuals are considered at high risk.
Published – October 13, 2025 01:03 pm IST
