Balamuthia mandrillaris: Difference between revisions

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Balamuthia mandrillaris
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** Characterized by progressive hemorrhagic necrosis of brain, with 90% mortality
** Characterized by progressive hemorrhagic necrosis of brain, with 90% mortality
** Fever, headache, altered mentation), vomiting, lethargy, seizures, and weakness
** Fever, headache, altered mentation), vomiting, lethargy, seizures, and weakness
* Often preceded by skin lesions, typically affecting the nose and cheeks, that can progress over months
* Often preceded by skin lesions by a few weeks to 2 years
** Typically affect the nose and cheeks, but also torso and limbs
** Often a single lesion
** Progress over months from papulonodular erythematous plate-like areas, enlarging and eventually ulcerating
** Typically painless
* Can also initially present with rhinitis, sinusitis, or otitis media
* Difficult to treat, with high mortality
* Difficult to treat, with high mortality



Revision as of 02:18, 4 June 2020

Background

Microbiology

Epidemiology

  • Present in soil
  • More common in US and South America
  • More common in Hispanics

Clinical Presentation

  • Causes granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) alone, skin lesions followed by GAE, or (rarely) skin lesions alone
    • Characterized by progressive hemorrhagic necrosis of brain, with 90% mortality
    • Fever, headache, altered mentation), vomiting, lethargy, seizures, and weakness
  • Often preceded by skin lesions by a few weeks to 2 years
    • Typically affect the nose and cheeks, but also torso and limbs
    • Often a single lesion
    • Progress over months from papulonodular erythematous plate-like areas, enlarging and eventually ulcerating
    • Typically painless
  • Can also initially present with rhinitis, sinusitis, or otitis media
  • Difficult to treat, with high mortality