A microscopic organism, an amoeba, found in soil, dust and
fresh water (lakes, rivers, hot springs and hot tubs). Acanthamoeba also occur in
brackish water and sea water as well as in heating, venting, and air conditioner
units, humidifiers, and dialysis units.
Acanthamoeba can enter the skin through a cut, wound, or through the nostrils
and, once inside the body, can travel to the lungs and through the bloodstream to
other parts of the body, especially to the central nervous system (the brain and
spinal cord). Through improper storage, handling, and disinfection of contact lenses,
Acanthamoeba can enter the eye and there cause infection.
A particularly dire infection caused by Acanthamoeba called granulomatous amebic
encephalitis is characterized by headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion,
loss of balance, seizures, and coma that can progress over several weeks and end
in death. Acanthamoeba infections occur more frequently in people with compromised
immune systems and the chronically ill. Eye and skin infections are generally treatable
while infections of the brain are almost always fatal.
medical
dictionary, online medical dictionary, medical
terminology dictionary, free online medical
dictionary, medical dictionary, online medical
dictionary, medical terminology dictionary, free
online medical dictionary, dictionary medical,
dictionary medical online, dictionary medical
terminology, dictionary free medical online,
dictionary free medical, dictionary medical
terms, dictionary drug medical medicine,
dictionary health illustrated medical nursing
profession stedmans, dictionary English medical,
dictionary medical online terminology,
dictionary encyclopedia medical online,
condition dictionary medical, dictionary
medical, dictionary drug medical, medical
dictionary software, cyclopedic dictionary index
medical tabers thumb, medical dictionary, online
medical dictionary, medical terminology
dictionary
