Amber and Tim held onto each other and cried after reading their son’s note. Balamuthia infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is a rare and often fatal condition. The Balamuthia amebas live in the soil. Playing in dirt, gardening, or just breathing in the soil where the amebas live increases your chance of infection.
No one is immune – these amebas can infect anyone. Any open wound can be a way into the body. Some symptoms of infection include nausea, vomiting, headaches, difficulty walking and talking. The treatment is the use of several drugs. According to the CDC, the correct diagnosis is made just before the patient dies.
This makes it hard for doctors to find the right combination of drugs to treat it properly.
The Leland Shoemake Foundation was set up to spread awareness about this deadly ameba. Please spread the word.