A North Carolina teenager died from a rare brain-eating amoeba just days after his mother said she took him to an emergency room where they did not receive the care they needed. 

Moises Ponce Mendoza has been identified as the patient who contracted a rare illness called Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba commonly found in freshwater, according to his family and health officials. 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reported on Thursday that the patient, who was not identified, was 'critically ill and receiving medical care.' 

Moises' mother, Monica Mendoza, identified him as the patient in an online fundraiser last week. 

She shared that her son was fighting for his life after contracting Naegleria fowleri, detailing the horrific sequence of events that led to his eventual hospitalization. 

Mendoza said her son started having severe headaches, and she took him to a hospital in Burlington for help. 

'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,' Mendoza said in Spanish, adding, 'The situation quickly worsened.'

The now-grieving mother said she then took her son to the University of North Carolina's emergency department the following morning, where doctors finally found the amoeba causing his illness. 

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

A man named Elmer Mendoza, who identified himself as Moises' older brother shared a photo of him on Monday, writing, 'Descanse en paz (Rest in Peace) 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 two on Christmas and wrote, 'I miss you so much bro please wake me up and tell me this is a bad dream.' 

The NCDHHS said in a statement on Monday that the teen had died. 'We extend our condolences to the family, friends and community impacted by this loss,' the department added. 

In an earlier statement, state epidemiologist Zack Moore added: 'While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the US. 

'There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection while swimming during the warmer months.'

The NCDHHS said there is no way to eliminate the amoeba, but safety precautions can be taken, including avoiding hot springs, plugging your nose underwater and jumping into warm freshwater.

The state health department is investigating the source of the amoeba. Experts noted that Naegleria fowleri is only found in freshwater and grows best at 115 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not cause illness if swallowed.

It can, however, be fatal if it is forced up the nose into the brain. Symptoms include severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, before progressing to stiff neck, seizures and coma.

The disease progresses rapidly and can be fatal within about five days.

Naegleria fowleri is incredibly rare, but the news follows another similar case in Louisiana. An eight-year-old girl named Lillian Smart died on August 22 after contracting the disease. 

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

The Louisiana health department said she had likely been exposed to the amoeba while swimming in Lake Claiborne. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Mendoza family for comment.