Kenyan social media personality Baba Talisha has opened up about a difficult health battle after being diagnosed with a rare eye infection that has left him facing a challenging treatment journey.
In an emotional update shared on Wednesday, November 11, alongside a video, Baba Talisha disclosed that he had been silently battling a condition known as Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK).
Acanthamoeba Keratitis is an infection that affects the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye.
He revealed that getting the correct diagnosis was not easy, as the infection can resemble other eye conditions, making it difficult for doctors to identify.
According to Baba Talisha, he underwent more than 14 tests before doctors finally identified the cause of his eye problem.
“For some time now, I have been silently battling a rare and serious eye infection known as Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK),” he shared.
“AK is caused by a parasite that can mimic several other eye infections, making it extremely difficult to diagnose. It has taken over 14 tests and a long journey of uncertainty before we finally got the correct diagnosis.”
Baba Talisha Discloses Rare Infection Affecting His Eyes
The diagnosis has marked the beginning of another difficult phase, with the social media personality revealing that accessing treatment has presented additional challenges.
He explained that managing the condition may involve surgery or specialised antiseptic eye drops, which he said were currently unavailable in Kenya.
Despite the challenges, Baba Talisha said he remained hopeful that he would recover and regain his full health and vision.
“It has been a challenging journey, but I remain hopeful, strong, and prayerful that I will overcome this and regain my full health and vision,” he stated.
He added that he was taking each day as it came while trusting his doctors and the healing process.
Baba Talisha also asked his followers and supporters to keep him in their prayers as he continues treatment.
“For now, I am taking it one day at a time, trusting God, the doctors, and the healing process. Hopefully, I shall be well again. Please keep me in your prayers,” he added.
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What Is Acanthamoeba Keratitis?
Acanthamoeba Keratitis is a rare but potentially sight-threatening eye infection caused by a microscopic organism known as Acanthamoeba.
Two of the 8 known species of Acanthamoeba, A. castellanii and A polyphaga, are responsible for most infections. Acanthamoeba are commonly found, free-living amoebae found in various environments, including pools, hot tubs, tap water, shower water, and contact lens solution.
The infection affects the cornea and can cause eye pain, redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and excessive tearing.
It is commonly associated with contact lens use, particularly when lenses are exposed to contaminated water or handled without proper hygiene. However, people who do not wear contact lenses can also develop the infection.
Diagnosis can be difficult because its symptoms resemble those of other eye infections. Doctors may use specialised eye examinations and laboratory tests to establish the cause.
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Treatment depends on the severity of the infection and may involve specialised antimicrobial eye drops administered over an extended period. In severe cases, doctors may consider surgery.
Acanthamoeba keratitis was first recognised in 1973.
In May 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an outbreak of Acanthamoeba keratitis that was associated with Complete MoisturePlus Multi Purpose Solution, manufactured by Advanced Medical Optics.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that eyes with Acanthamoeba keratitis constitute 1.5% of the eyes with microbial keratitis, and it estimated the ratio of eyes with Acanthamoeba keratitis to the entire population to be 0.0002% or 2.3 eyes per 1 million people.
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