A 14-year-old boy who was being treated for amoebic meningoencephalitis (brain fever) has recovered. The child, a native of Meladi, Kozhikode, was cured of the disease. A person diagnosed with amoebic encephalitis rarely recovers in the country. Only 11 people in the world have recovered from the disease.
The child was brought back to life from a disease with a 97% mortality rate. Health Minister Veena George congratulated the entire team for coordinating and leading the treatment. After the report of amoebic encephalitis in the state, the health department held a meeting under the leadership of the minister and issued special precautionary instructions. Based on this, the health workers at the Meladi Primary Health Center expressed suspicion that the child’s symptoms could be those of brain fever.
On the same day, the child had epilepsy and was admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode. As a 14-year-old, the health department specially delivered Miltefosine. The child recovered after three weeks of treatment. Health workers said this was achieved because the disease was detected early and the child was assured of all available treatments.
State treatment guidelines for amoebic encephalitis were released yesterday. It is the first time in the country that a comprehensive guideline for amoebic encephalitis has been released.
