Boy Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba After Being Sent Home from Hospital

A North Carolina teenager has died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba, just days after his mother said she first took him to an emergency room but did not receive the care she believed he needed.

Moises Ponce Mendoza was identified by his family as the patient who contracted Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba that can cause a devastating and often fatal brain infection.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services initially announced Thursday that a patient with the infection was “critically ill and receiving medical care,” but did not publicly identify him at the time.

Moises’ mother, Monica Mendoza, later said in an online fundraiser that the patient was her son and described the frightening sequence of events that led to his hospitalization.

She said Moises began suffering from severe headaches, prompting her to take him to a hospital in Burlington.

“I took Moises to the hospital in Burlington seeking help, but we didn’t receive the care we needed; a doctor saw him briefly and then told us we could go home,” she wrote in Spanish.

According to Mendoza, her son’s condition quickly got worse.

The following morning, she took him to the University of North Carolina’s emergency department, where doctors eventually discovered that he had contracted Naegleria fowleri.

“From that moment on, our lives changed completely,” she wrote. “Moises is in a coma, and doctors are doing everything possible to fight this illness and give him a chance to pull through.”

Despite those efforts, Moises did not survive.

A man named Elmer Mendoza, who identified himself as Moises’ older brother, shared an emotional tribute on Facebook Monday.

“Descanse en paz,” or “Rest in Peace,” he wrote, adding, “lil brother will love you forever your a real fighter bro rest en paradise love you.”

In another post, Elmer shared a photo of the brothers together at Christmas and wrote, “I miss you so much bro please wake me up and tell me this is a bad dream.”

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services later confirmed that the teen had died.

“We extend our condolences to the family, friends and community impacted by this loss,” the department said.

State epidemiologist Zack Moore said the case serves as a reminder that the amoeba can be present in North Carolina and elsewhere across the United States, even though infections are extremely rare.

“While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the US,” Moore said.

He added that people can take steps to reduce their risk while swimming during warmer months.

Naegleria fowleri is typically found in warm freshwater and grows best in temperatures around 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

The amoeba does not cause illness if it is swallowed.

The danger comes when contaminated water is forced up the nose, allowing the organism to travel to the brain.

Once that happens, the infection can progress rapidly.

Early symptoms can include a severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. The illness can then worsen to include a stiff neck, seizures and coma, and it can become fatal within days.

Health officials say the amoeba cannot be completely eliminated from the environment, but people can reduce their risk by avoiding warm freshwater or hot springs, holding or plugging their nose underwater and avoiding jumping or diving into warm freshwater where water could be forced into the nasal passages.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is investigating where Moises may have been exposed.

His death follows another recent case involving 8-year-old Lillian Smart in Louisiana.

Lillian died on Aug. 22 after contracting Naegleria fowleri. Louisiana health officials said she was believed to have been exposed while swimming in Lake Claiborne.

“The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from,” her family said at the time. “Everyone did everything they could to keep her here. We are heartbroken and honestly do not know what to do next.”