MURAT SÜTÇÜ, Hacer AKTÜRK, Sezen GÜLÜMSER-ŞİŞKO, Manolya ACAR, Oğuz Bülent EROL, AYPER SOMER, MEBRURE BİLGE BİLGİÇ, Nuran SALMAN

Granulomatous amebic encephalitis caused by Acanthamoeba in an immuncompetent child

Acanthamoeba may lead to granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) withhigh mortality rates generally in patients with immunosupression and/orchronic disease. Here, we present a rare GAE case, who was a previouslyhealthy child. A Georgian 9 year old boy presented with focal seizure onhis left arm and confusion. Since computed tomography (CT) demonstratedhypodense lesion on right occipital lobe, brain biopsy was performed.Histopathological examination of the biopsy material revealed Acanthamoebacysts and trophozoites together with granulomatous inflammation. The patient,who had no clinical and laboratory findings consistent with immunedeficiency,was diagnosed as GAE. He was treated with a combination drug therapy.Even if it is very rare, amebic meningoencephalitis may also be seen inimmunocompetent children, as in our case. Definitive diagnosis is made bymicrobiological and histopathological examination of brain biopsy material

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