What are the symptoms of Acanthamoeba infection?
The symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis can be very similar to the symptoms of other more common eye infections. The symptoms, which can last several weeks to months, are not the same for everyone and may include: • Eye pain • Eye redness • Blurred vision • Sensitivity to light • Sensation of something in the eye • Excessive tearing Eye infection with Acanthamoeba has never been known to cause infections in other parts of the body. Acanthamoeba can also cause skin lesions and/or disseminated infection. These infections usually occur in people with compromised immune systems. Acanthamoeba can cause a serious, most often deadly, infection of the brain and spinal cord called Granulomatous Encephalitis (GAE). Once infected, a person may suffer with headaches, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance and bodily control, seizures, and hallucinations. Symptoms progress over several weeks and death usually occurs. Skin
