A North Carolina teenager has died from a rare and often fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba found in warm freshwater, according to state health officials. The death was reported just days after an 8 year old girl in Louisiana succumbed to the same infection.

The teenager’s mother said in a GoFundMe that the first symptom was "severe headaches." She added, "I never imagined that something like this could be so serious."

"We extend our condolences to the family, friends and community impacted by this loss," the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement obtained by news outlets.

Naegleria fowleri is a one celled living organism that inhabits ponds, lakes and rivers. Commonly called a brain eating amoeba, it causes a life threatening brain infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM.

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"While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the U.S.," State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., said in a prior statement. "There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection while swimming during the warmer months."

The amoeba is most active during months when water temperatures remain elevated. Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UT Southwestern and Children's Health in Dallas, Texas, said hot, dry conditions can leave lakes and ponds warm and stagnant.

"It's typically this time of year when it's very hot outside, when there hasn't been a lot of rain … and the lakes and ponds get pretty stagnant and get very warm, and that's a great breeding ground for these type of natural inhabitants of those waters," Kahn told Fox News Digital.

An infection can occur when water containing the amoeba is forced up the nose, allowing it to travel to the brain. This can happen when someone jumps or dives into the water or participates in water sports.

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"Once that happens, it's nearly a lethal disease," Kahn warned. "The mortality rate is close to 100%."

Naegleria fowleri does not cause illness when contaminated water is swallowed. The infection also does not spread from one person to another.

Initial symptoms of PAM usually begin about five days after exposure, although they may be noticed sooner. Symptoms can appear anywhere from one to 12 days after exposure, according to the CDC.

Early signs usually include headache, nausea, fever and vomiting. As the infection progresses, a person may experience confusion, slurred speech, stiff neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures and coma.

Kahn noted that the first symptoms do not point clearly to one particular disease and can progress rapidly. Diagnosis involves testing cerebrospinal fluid obtained through a spinal tap, and specialized laboratory testing may be required.

Once symptoms begin, the disease progresses rapidly. Most people die within one to 18 days after symptoms appear, typically around five days, according to the CDC.

To help prevent infections, Kahn recommends avoiding waters where the amoeba is more likely to be found or taking added precautions. "If you are swimming in those waters, wear a nose clip, don't put your head underwater, those types of things," he said.

Because the amoeba is also found in soil, the CDC recommends avoiding stirring up sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds and rivers. People who experience sudden headache, fever, stiff neck or vomiting after recently swimming in warm freshwater should seek immediate medical attention.

Treatment following a diagnosis involves a combination of antimicrobial medications and medications that fight amoebas. These include amphotericin B, azithromycin, rifampin and miltefosine, although Kahn said the very small number of cases each year makes it difficult to draw conclusions from treatments attempted over the years.

"In the cases we've seen, we typically throw a lot of these antibiotics as a therapeutic modality, but by the time the [amoeba] enters the brain and starts to basically erode the brain tissue, it's too late."