The most common cause of amoebic meningitis is Naegleria fowleri
This organism can cause Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a very serious condition
The facts
- Naegleria fowleri lives in warm fresh water lakes or ponds and poorly maintained swimming pools, and can infect people who swim or dive in the water
- The organism enters the body through the nose and then migrates to the brain, where it damages brain tissue, causing PAM
- Young males appear to be at the highest risk for this type of meningitis, however it is extremely rare that contact with contaminated water results in disease
Parasitic and Amoebic meningitis are rarely, if ever, seen in the UK