Stefanía Villamizar González, a 10-year-old dancer, died from a strange infection she contracted after spending a few days in Santa Marta… Already a subscriber? Login here!
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Stefanía Villamizar González, a 10-year-old dancer, died of a strange infection she contracted after spending a few days in Santa Marta, a Caribbean city in Colombia. The little girl was on vacation with her family and spent most of her time in the pool. Mother and daughter arrived in the capital Magdalena on June 18 and two days later Stefanía presented with health problems that included severe ear pain, vomiting and fever. At first the episode was treated as a common ear infection. At home the pain gradually subsided. But on July 4th the situation worsened. The mother explained that the little girl did not want to get up and that the light caused severe discomfort in her eyes. When she struggled to reach the toilet, the little girl started having convulsions and was rushed to the emergency room. On July 26, Stefania was diagnosed with brain death and was pronounced dead two days later.
17-year-old girl killed by a brain-eating amoeba after swimming in the lake: severe headache, then hospitalized
Story
Experts believe the cause of death is related to Naegleria fowleri, also known as brain-eating amoeba, which usually lurks in fresh water, although in some cases it has also been found in water parks and swimming pools. It kills 97% of its victims. A relative of the little girl told local media: “We share our story so that all families can take the necessary precautions.” We are devastated, devastated. Stefanía was a tennis player, skater and ballet dancer who dreamed of becoming a gymnast. The manager of the hotel where Stefanía is believed to have contracted the amoeba has pledged to increase safety standards. There are currently no known criminal allegations.
What is a brain-eating amoeba?
An amoeba is a tiny, single-celled animal found in warm freshwater waters such as lakes and rivers. Typically, the amoeba enters through the nose and travels through the sinuses to the brain, where it causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and usually fatal brain infection. It spreads through the nerves to the brain, where it multiplies and destroys tissue. In the early stages, patients initially experience headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting, but days and weeks later they may also experience hallucinations and seizures.
How it comes into contract and how it is treated
As the specialized website humanitas.it reports, Naegleria infection (Naegleria fowleri) is transmitted through prolonged exposure (a few days) in water contaminated with the pathogen. Naegleria is sensitive to the antifungal drug amphotericin B, which appears to have been used in almost all cases where the infection was successfully cleared. Detailed analyzes have shown that this agent alters the pathogen’s membranes, including those of the cell nucleus and the smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Given the growing number of cases where it has not been effective, experts are looking for new drugs in the hope of finding some that are not only more effective but also associated with fewer side effects.
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