Tag

Pam

All articles tagged with #pam

New Treatments Bring Hope Against Deadly Brain-Eating Amoebas
health1 month ago

New Treatments Bring Hope Against Deadly Brain-Eating Amoebas

Infections by Naegleria fowleri, which cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), are almost always fatal (over 97%); however, miltefosine—an anti-leishmaniasis drug that can cross the blood–brain barrier—has saved several patients since 2013, spurring research into alternatives like nitroxoline and potential vaccines, as well as other strategies. The key to improving outcomes remains rapid diagnosis and access to treatment, though funding challenges for trials in this rare disease persist. Climate warming of waterways could raise exposure in the future, prompting renewed urgency in PAM research.

Genetic GLP-1 Resistance Could Explain Uneven Ozempic Responses
health-and-medicine1 month ago

Genetic GLP-1 Resistance Could Explain Uneven Ozempic Responses

Stanford-led research links PAM gene variants to GLP-1 resistance, where higher GLP-1 levels do not translate to better blood-sugar control, helping explain why roughly 10% of people respond poorly to Ozempic- and Wegovy-like drugs; the findings point toward precision medicine and may favor longer-acting GLP-1 therapies or alternatives for those with the variants.

Child Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba at Lake Murray in South Carolina
health10 months ago

Child Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba at Lake Murray in South Carolina

A patient in a South Carolina children's hospital has died from primary amebic meningoencephalitis caused by the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, likely contracted from Lake Murray, marking the first case in the state since 2016. The infection is highly fatal, occurring when contaminated water enters the brain through the nose during recreational water activities. Health officials advise precautions like nose clips to reduce risk.

Texas Woman Dies After Sinus Rinse with Tap Water: Brain-Eating Amoeba Risks
health11 months ago

Texas Woman Dies After Sinus Rinse with Tap Water: Brain-Eating Amoeba Risks

A 71-year-old woman in Texas died after contracting the deadly brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri through nasal rinsing with tap water. The amoeba, which thrives in warm freshwater and soil, causes a rare but almost always fatal brain infection called Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Although infections are extremely rare, rising global temperatures and increased water activities during hot weather are contributing to more cases worldwide. Prevention includes proper water disinfection, avoiding warm freshwater during high temperatures, and using nose plugs or distilled water for nasal rinsing.

Texas Woman Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba After Using Tap Water for Sinus Rinse
health11 months ago

Texas Woman Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba After Using Tap Water for Sinus Rinse

A Texas woman died after using contaminated tap water for sinus rinsing, highlighting the dangers of Naegleria fowleri, a rare but deadly brain-eating amoeba. The infection, primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), is almost always fatal and occurs when contaminated water enters the nose, typically in warm freshwater environments. Prevention includes avoiding untreated water for nasal irrigation and swimming in chlorinated pools or oceans. Early detection and treatment are critical, but the disease remains highly lethal with very few survivors.

health3 years ago

Climate Change Spurs Spread of Deadly Brain-Eating Amoebas in Northern US States

Rising temperatures attributed to climate change are causing the "brain-eating" amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, to move northward, posing a greater threat to human health in new regions where primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) has not yet been documented. Although rare, the amoeba can cause a fatal infection if it enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain. Public health agencies are warning medical professionals of the potential threat and a case report has been published to help health care providers detect and treat N. fowleri infection.