Over the past few months, Kerala has closely followed the case of 12-year-old Ajsal from Padoor, Thrissur, who was critically ill with amoebic meningoencephalitis. He received treatment at several hospitals in Thrissur and Kochi.
Fully recovered, Ajsal returned home from Amrita Hospital in Kochi on Monday. Ajsal and his parents expressed their gratitude to the doctors at Amrita Hospital who supported him in overcoming this rare disease. Dr. K.P. Vinayan, head of the Paediatric Neurology Department at Amrita Hospital, stated that Ajsal recovered faster than expected. He also welcomed the state health department's guidelines on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of amoebic meningoencephalitis.
The treatment team, led by Dr. K.P. Vinayan, included Associate Professor Dr. Vaishakh Anand from the Pediatric Neurology Department, Dr. Sajith Keshavan, head of the Pediatric Pulmonary and Critical Care Department, Associate Professor Dr. Greeshma Isaac, and Assistant Professor Dr. N.B. Praveena from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department. Ajsal’s parents, Noufal and Anisha, expressed immense joy at their son's quick recovery and return to normal life.
Ajsal was first admitted to the primary health centre in Padoor on June 1 due to a fever. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to a private medical college hospital in Thrissur on June 2, and then to Thrissur Government Medical College. Tests on his cerebrospinal fluid sample sent to a lab in Puducherry revealed an infection with Vermamoeba vermiformis.
His condition deteriorated, and he required ventilator support. On June 16, Ajsal was transferred to Amrita Hospital in critical condition. While receiving treatment at Amrita, a retest of his cerebrospinal fluid sent to the lab for reconfirmation also confirmed the infection of Vermamoeba vermiformis.
After a week of treatment at Amrita, his health improved, and he began breathing without the aid of a ventilator. He was moved out of the ICU to a regular room two weeks ago after his condition stabilized. Following a week of physiotherapy, he regained mobility in his legs.
