A Common Amoeba Caused Severe Full-Body Lesions in a Healthy Elderly Man
Similar Articles
Scientists Warn of Expanding Threat from 'Brain-Eating' Amoeba and Other Waterborne Pathogens
Chickenpox Infection Leads to Ultra-Rare Keloid Growths in Teenager
New Gut Virus Linked to Colorectal Cancer Risk in Major Study
Mayo Clinic Researchers Develop New Method to Tag Aging 'Zombie' Cells
Researchers Identify Brain Cell Process That Removes Alzheimer's Plaques in Mice
A 78-year-old man developed severe, disfiguring ulcers over six months, including lesions that destroyed his eyelid and created a hole between his mouth and nasal cavity. Doctors at a Yale School of Medicine hospital identified the cause as Acanthamoeba, a common amoeba typically found in tap water and other environments. This case is unusual because the man did not have a compromised immune system, which is the typical risk factor for such severe infections.
Facts First
- A 78-year-old man developed black lesions and deep ulcers over his body during a six-month period.
- One lesion destroyed the man's left eyelid and another created a hole between his mouth and nasal cavity.
- Doctors identified the cause as Acanthamoeba, a common free-living amoeba found in locations like tap water.
- Severe Acanthamoeba infections are typically opportunistic, occurring in patients with compromised immune systems, HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, or on immunosuppressive drugs.
- This case is unusual because the 78-year-old man did not fit into these typical risk categories.
What Happened
A 78-year-old man developed black lesions and deep ulcers across his body over six months. The lesions were severe, covering his face in dark scabs, destroying his left eyelid, and creating a hole between the roof of his mouth and his nasal cavity. He was transferred to a Yale School of Medicine hospital for higher-level care, where doctors diagnosed the cause as an infection from Acanthamoeba, a unicellular, free-living amoeba.
Why this Matters to You
Acanthamoeba is a common organism found in various locations, including tap water. While severe, full-body infections are rare and typically occur in people with weakened immune systems—such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or diabetes, or those taking powerful immunosuppressive drugs—this case shows it can, in very rare instances, affect individuals without these known risk factors. This may prompt increased medical awareness of the pathogen's potential in atypical patients.
What's Next
The case has been reported in the medical journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, which could lead to further study and discussion within the medical community about Acanthamoeba's behavior in patients without classic immune compromise. Doctors may be more likely to consider this diagnosis in similar severe ulcer cases, even when typical risk factors are absent.