‘Acanthamoeba’ are very common protozoa. They are in the air, vegetation, swimming pools, seawater and even in hospitals. They can live freely or as parasites within a host such as man. They enter the human body through the eyes causing severe keratitis; through the skin or through the respiratory tract, producing infections and even forms of encephalitis.
People with a depressed immune system, for example having HIV, chronic patients such as diabetes patients, are very vulnerable, and those who use contact lenses should be especially careful.
Causes of acanthoamoebiasis
Cuts, injuries or inhalation
‘Acanthamoeba’ can enter the human body, mainly, through an injury or wound in the skin and by inhalation. It has two forms: the active or trophozoite that feeds through phagocytosis or pinocytosis; or cyst, the latent form that it acquires in situations unfavorable for its development.
When he accesses the host, in this case the man can cause several disorders such as:
– Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE).
– Cutaneous acanthoamebiasis.
– Keratitis due to ‘Acanthamoeba’.
– Systemic infection by ‘Acanthamoeba’.
Symptoms of acanthoamoebiasis
Various depending on the impact
The symptoms of acanthoamoebiasis depend on the source of the infection:
– Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) that presents: fever, headache, seizures, nausea and/or vomiting, vision problems and behavioral changes and altered mental status. It can even produce a coma.
– Cutaneous acanthoamebiasis usually has signs: erythematous nodules and ulcers on the trunk and extremities that are painful.
– ‘Acanthamoeba’ keratitis produces ocular redness, photophobia and even corneal ulceration.
– Systemic infection by ‘Acanthamoeba’ mainly affects immunosuppressed patients, who have undergone a transplant or who are receiving treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. This form of acanthoamoebiasis is serious and presents as lung inflammation (pneumonitis) and bronchitis.
Diagnosis of acanthoamoebiasis
Physical examination, cultures and biopsies
The physical examination, the description of symptoms and tests such as tissue cultures, skin, cornea or brain biopsies, depending on the origin of the infection, will allow a histological study to be carried out. A polymerase chain reaction or PCR test can also be done to study the parasite’s DNA sequences.
Acanthoamoebiasis treatment and medication
Antiprotozoal antibiotics
Acanthoamoebiasis is difficult to cure especially because in the form of cysts it is very resistant to drugs. The treatment regimen is based on antiprotozoal antibiotics such as ketoconazole, fluconazole or itraconazole.
Prevention of acanthoamoebiasis
Hygiene measures and periodic eye check-ups
Correct hygiene measures, avoiding alcohol and alcoholism and following a pattern of periodic check-ups if contact lenses are used are the main prevention measures. Hands should be washed and dried before and after using contact lenses, clean contact lenses following the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the products used for this purpose, and clean and disinfect all cases where lenses are stored or cleaned. Additionally, the solution must be discarded in the contact lens case each time they are disinfected and the case must be washed and dried afterwards.
You should not sleep with contact lenses or use them when swimming. Additionally, you should avoid touching the eye if acanthoamoebiasis appears on the skin or if you suffer from any type of infection.
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