Mum issues water warning after toddler contracts deadly brain-eating amoeba

A devastated mother whose toddler died after contracting a brain-eating amoeba from playing with the garden hose has issued a warning for other parents.

Jodi Keough said her son Lincoln’s life was lost to a devastating infection from the family’s bore water supply in North West Queensland in April 2015.

Little Lincoln contracted the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, and began vomiting and having seizures.

Four days later, the cheeky, happy boy was dead.

Naeglera fowleri lives in warm, untreated freshwater and can get into a person’s system when water containing the bug travels up the nasal passage.

Ms Keough launched the Lincoln Cash - ‘Fresh Water for Life’ awareness campaign and now more than one year on, has urged parents to be aware of the deadly symptoms.

“Following the traumatic loss of our baby boy we returned home, and now knowingly, also the home to this deadly parasite,” Ms Keough wrote in a blog on media site Mamamia.

“We have tried to create a safer environment for our children by implementing the recommended filtration system combined with UV light and avoiding water activities which may result in water going up the nose.”

The mother-of-four said she is still filled with dread when her other children play in the water, waiting and watching if the same symptoms of Lincoln present.

“When one of our children is unwell, particularly if they have a temperature or are vomiting, we find ourselves retracing our steps in our mind, questioning their exposure to the water,” she said.

“Once I took my sick son to hospital without a faintest thought that he may die.

“But the unimaginable happened and now anything seems possible.”

“We don’t want other parents to celebrate their child’s birthday without them there to blow out their candles,” Ms Keough said.

“Statistically we know that children are at a greater risk of being infected by Naegleria fowleri and no parent should ever lose a child and my heart goes out to all those who have.

“With summers’ heat upon us, we want the message of awareness fresh in the minds of all Australians.”

Common symptoms of the infection include fever, headaches, a stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and hallucinations.

“People have asked, ‘How do you cope?’. Mostly I say, ‘I have to’. I lost my perfect boy, but I still have beautiful girls to love and raise with (husband) Laine. They count on me and I know I have to lead them through life by example,” Ms Keough said.

To find out more about the awareness campaign CLICK HERE