Hello! My name is Nina, and I am an Amoeba. Technically, I am called Naegleria fowleri, which is a type of pathogen. Pathogens are what can make you sick, but don't worry! I am here to help us learn more about Amoeba and the PAM disease! 

You may be thinking, How might amoebae make people sick? Well, we like to hang out in warm, moist reservoirs. This includes pools, hot-tubs, hot springs, even lakes. Sometimes, we may enter through a persons nose by accident, and from there we travel to the brain, which makes people sick with something called PAM (Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis

How will you know your sick with PAM?

You'll know your sick with PAM if you experience these symptoms. (Symptoms are things that happen to your body when you are sick.) 

- High Fever

- Very Painful Headache

_ Nausea and Vomiting

- Trembling

And way more symptoms that could be fatal. If you think you could be experiencing these symptoms, get help from a medical professional right away. 

How can you stay safe?

You can prevent getting infected with PAM by either staying out of warm, freshwater bodies of water or by making sure to plug your nose or use nose clips in those bodies of water. You can also avoid putting your head under the water in hot springs, hot-tubs, freshwater pools, etc. 

Unfortunately, the treatment options for PAM are quite difficult, and mostly unsuccessful. This type of microorganism contaminates the brain area, and doesn't respond to treatment, which makes it especially difficult for patients to survive after being infected.