Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis
| Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis | |
|---|---|
| T2-weighted MRI showing a necrotic brain abscess as a result of GAE caused by an infection of Acanthamoeba. | |
| Specialty | Infectious diseases |
| Symptoms | Fever, headaches, personality changes |
| Complications | seizures, coma, risk of death |
| Causes | Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Sappinia pedata |
| Treatment | Nitroxoline, miltefosine |
Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) is a rare, often fatal, subacute-to-chronic central nervous system disease caused by certain species of free-living amoebae of the genera Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia and Sappinia. The term is most commonly used with Acanthamoeba. In more modern references, the term "balamuthia amoebic encephalitis" (BAE) is commonly used when Balamuthia mandrillaris is the cause. Similarly, Sappinia amoebic encephalitis (SAE) is the name for amoebic encephalitis caused by species of Sappinia.