
Embora seja uma doença muito rara, é uma patologia de grande interesse dos sistemas de saúde por ser altamente letal. Não há cura definitiva, apesar de existirem alguns casos aparentemente curados com anfotericina B em altas doses. A incubação é de alguns dias com surgimento súbito dos sintomas e morte algumas horas depois. A infecção ocorre na natação em cursos de água doce infectada, como piscinas, rios e lagos. Este parasita causa uma meningite e encefalite hiperagudas, quase sempre fatais. A naegleríase ou meningoencefalite amebiana primária (MAP) é a infecção pela ameba parasita Naegleria fowleri, apelidada "a ameba que come cérebro".Of the 450 or so naegleriasis cases in the past 60 years, only seven have survived, for a case fatality rate of 98.5%. Although infection occurs very rarely, it almost inevitably results in death. As the disease is rare, it is often not considered during diagnosis. There is no evidence of it living in salt water.

It is also found in an amoeboid or temporary flagellate stage in soil, poorly maintained municipal water supplies, water heaters, near warm-water discharges of industrial plants and in poorly chlorinated or unchlorinated swimming pools. fowleri is typically found in warm bodies of fresh water, such as ponds, lakes, rivers and hot springs.

Symptoms progress rapidly over around five days, and death usually results within one to two weeks of symptoms. Symptoms are meningitis-like and include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, a stiff neck, confusion, hallucinations and seizures.
