Dr. Ashaq Hussain Parrey
Rheumatology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
A couple of weeks ago, my son got water up his nose while he was showering. I was terrified about the brain-eating amoeba. I asked several doctors what symptoms to look for. They all said I had nothing to worry about. And it was not a concern.
On day 11, he started having a high fever of 103. 2-degree Farenheit. It has been 48 hours, and his fever is still between 102 and 104-degree Farenheit without taking the tablet Tylenol. Could the amoeba be to blame? When I took him to the doctor yesterday, they told me he had the flu. Thirteen days have passed since the water went up his nose. Symptoms began 11 days after the water went up his nose. According to what they said, he tested positive for the flu yesterday, so I am just giving him the tablet Tylenol and hoping everything turns out okay. Do you have any suggestions on what I should do?
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
After two weeks of infection, amebiasis typically manifests as cramping abdominal pain, bloody or watery diarrhea, and anorexia or weight loss. Your child does not exhibit this symptom, and flu is the most frequent cause of high fever in children. Therefore, you should not be concerned.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
Everything I read online claims that it causes fever and kills 95 % of infected people.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
That explains why Google is not always practical. As a result of the infection spreading from the intestines to the brain through the blood, cerebral amebiasis affects 0.6 % of patients. However, if the gut symptoms are left untreated, the infection may occasionally spread to the brain. I suggest you give your son tablet Paracetamol (Tylenol). Stomach acid usually takes care of accidental ingestion of infected water because it kills the organism. Your son has flu symptoms, not amebiasis.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I considered ingesting water through my nasal cavity. I apologize for the confusion, and I appreciate your assistance. Numerous news articles warn against forcing water into the nasal cavity's olfactory region due to the risk of amoeba.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
One organism that causes primary meningoencephalitis and disseminates, as you might expect, is Naegleria fowleri. However, the symptoms are not the same as the flu. They include fever, vomiting, altered mental status, and focal neurological deficit. If you have already visited the ER (emergency room) and the child is healthy between the fever episodes, you do not need to be concerned. However, the patient is typically very ill, and I am confident that no doctor will ignore these symptoms. Please update if you can list all the symptoms your child experiences and how he acts after taking tablet Tylenol (Paracetamol). Does he eat? Does his mental state change? Are there any other symptoms that don't seem to fit the flu?
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
His temperature ranges between 101-degree Fahrenheit and 103.5-degree Fahrenheit, with coughing and congestion. He drank water, apple juice, and gatorade today instead of eating anything. He had eaten a biscuit the day before. He seems better when taking tablet Tylenol than when not. He has not taken any medicine in 12 hours because he detests taking pills, but his ear temperature is 103-degree Fahrenheit. Before taking tablet Tylenol, he woke up from sleep last night with a fever of 104-degree Fahrenheit and hallucinating. After taking the medication, he slept soundly and normally awoke this morning feeling tired.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
All of his symptoms are consistent with the viral flu. Typically, the fever should start to go down after 72 hours. If that does not happen, it indicates lung involvement with the virus. Still, meningoencephalitis is not likely the cause because the most noticeable symptoms are severe headache, persistent vomiting, and altered mental status. We need to watch how he acts over the next 24 hours, and I am confident he will be alright.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I thought his fever had subsided for about 40 hours. He spent the day at home with my wife. When I got home from work, he seemed too tired, so I checked his temperature. His temperature reading was 99.9-degree Fahrenheit in the ear, but his oral reading was 100.4-degree Fahrenheit. Should I be worried? Five days ago, he had a temperature of 103-degree Fahrenheit. The next day also he had a fever, and the day after, his fever ranged from 102-degree Fahrenheit to 104-degree Fahrenheit, then it seemed to break. He seemed more exhausted today than he did yesterday.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
That is normal. It is referred to as post-viral fatigue, and as I previously mentioned, the fever should not be high after three days. Although his appetite will be slightly lower for a few days, a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit is normal for a few days, so I do not see why you should be concerned.
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