Revista chilena de infectología : órgano oficial de la Sociedad Chilena de Infectología
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Rev Chilena Infectol · Sep 2006
Review Case Reports[Granulomatous amoebic meningoencephalitis by Balamuthia mandrillaris: case report and literature review].
The free-living amebas Naegleria and Acanthamoeba are recognized as causal agents of central nervous system infections. Recently a third free-living ameba, Balamuthia mandrillaris, was identified as the causal agent of granulomatous encephalitis in humans. We report a case of Balamuthia encephalitis in an immunocompetent school-age girl who presented cutaneous lesions that compromised the central portion of the face. ⋯ Nevertheless, the child was readmitted six months later, with progressive neurological involvement, dying about one year after the onset of cutaneous symptoms. The brain necropsy showed the presence of B. mandrillaris cysts and trophozoites. Balamuthia mandrillaris infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with chronic granulomatous disease with neurologic symptoms.