Seattle Children's Doctors Detail Toddler's Fatal Amoeba Case After 30-Day Diagnostic Delay
Updated
Updated · Ars Technica · Aug 12
Seattle Children's Doctors Detail Toddler's Fatal Amoeba Case After 30-Day Diagnostic Delay
1 articles · Updated · Ars Technica · Aug 12
Summary
More than 30 days passed before Seattle Children's doctors identified the ultra-rare brain amoeba that killed a previously healthy Washington toddler, according to a BMJ Case Reports study published Wednesday.
The boy's illness began with vomiting, lethargy and right-side weakness, then progressed to headache, fever, swallowing trouble, brief unresponsiveness and episodes of stopped breathing, but the presentation differed from scant prior literature and misdirected clinicians.
An autopsy found a severe stroke, necrotic brain vasculature and brain tissue filled with amoebas; after treatment attempts failed and injuries proved irreversible, his parents chose to remove his breathing tube.
Only about 200 human cases have been recorded worldwide since the pathogen was first identified in 1986, and roughly 90% have been fatal, underscoring the doctors' aim of helping future cases get diagnosed earlier.