eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Parasitology

Amebic Meningoencephalitis: Follow-up

Author: Robert W Tolan Jr, MD, Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 21, 2009

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • Admit patients with amebic meningoencephalitis to the ICU for intensive monitoring and therapy.

Transfer

  • Arrange transfer if appropriate specialists and resources are otherwise unavailable.

Complications

  • Depending on the extent of CNS injury, complications vary among the rare survivors of these infections.

Prognosis

  • Prognosis is abysmal, even with timely therapy.

Patient Education

  • Routinely discuss the risks of exposure to free-living amebae in warm, typically stagnant, freshwater.
  • Some have advocated the avoidance of diving and jumping into these waters.
  • Advise individuals to consider the use of nose plugs for unavoidable exposures.
  • Advise individuals to verify adequate chlorination of swimming pools.
  • For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Brain and Nervous System Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Brain Infection.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to make the diagnosis of CNS infection
  • Failure to consider the diagnosis of amebic meningoencephalitis when no response occurs to routine antibacterials for acute bacterial meningitis
  • Failure to obtain a thorough history that would suggest the diagnosis of amebic meningoencephalitis
 


More on Amebic Meningoencephalitis

Overview: Amebic Meningoencephalitis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Amebic Meningoencephalitis
Treatment & Medication: Amebic Meningoencephalitis
Follow-up: Amebic Meningoencephalitis
References
Further Reading
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Further Reading

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Keywords

amebic meningoencephalitis, acanthamebic keratoconjunctivitis, Acanthamoeba, aphasia, aseptic meningitis, ataxia, bacterial meningitis, Balamuthia mandrillaris, central nervous system infection, CNS infection, cerebral herniation, cranial nerve palsies, diplopia, encephalitis, Entamoeba histolytica, granulomatous amebic encephalitis, GAE, hemiplegias, intracranial pressure, ICP, leptomyxid meningitis, meningitis, myocarditis, Naegleria fowleri, photophobia, primary amebic meningoencephalitis, PAM, Sappinia diploidea

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD, Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine
Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility
Disclosure: GlaxoSmithKline Honoraria Speaking and teaching; MedImmune Honoraria Consulting; MedImmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching; sanofi pasteur Grant/research funds Unrestricted research grant; sanofi pasteur  Consulting; sanofi pasteur Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Tap Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Baxter Healthcare Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Medical Editor

Michael D Nissen, MBBS, BMedSc, FRACP, FRCPA, Associate Professor in Biomolecular, Biomedical Science & Health, Griffith University; Director of Infectious Diseases and Unit Head of Queensland Paediatric Infectious Laboratory, Sir Albert Sakzewski Viral Research Centre, Royal Children's Hospital
Michael D Nissen, MBBS, BMedSc, FRACP, FRCPA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society for Microbiology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from financial planner; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from financial planner ; WebMD Salary and stock Employment and investment from financial planner

Managing Editor

Martin Weisse, MD, Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University
Martin Weisse, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

David Pallares, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Louisville
David Pallares, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD, Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine
Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: None None None

 
 
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