Many people are suffering from seasonal allergies, colds and other sinus problems. Nasal Irrigation devices, including neti pots, are a common way of treating the discomfort of blocked sinuses. But you should always use distilled or boiled water when rinsing your sinuses.
A Texas woman died from a brain-eating amoeba she contracted using tap water to rinse her sinuses. While brain-eating amoeba is rare, it is usually fatal. Fewer than 10 people are infected in the U.S. every year, but the death rate is 97 percent. People are usually infected from swimming, other water activities or nasal irrigation. The woman was 71 and otherwise healthy. She was staying at an RV campground.
The summer is a wonderful time for getting outdoors and swimming! We love swimming in lakes, rivers and ponds. But amoeba can thrive in that environment. When you jump or dive into the water, experts recommend holding your nose. And you should keep your head above the water. Amoeba live in the soil of shallower water, so you should avoid disturbing the soil.
Within four days of being exposed to the tap water, the woman had “severe neurologic symptoms.” She had a fever, headache and altered mental status. Although he was given medical treatment, she started having seizures and died eight days after her symptoms first started.
You don’t have to worry about drinking brain-eating amoeba. While safe drinking water is always essential, the amoeba cannot infect people when drunk. It also cannot spread from person to person.
If you have a sudden headache, fever, stiff neck or vomiting, you should seek immediate medical help. If you have been swimming in freshwater or have rinsed your sinuses recently, you should tell your doctor. The amoeba is rare but deadly. However, it can be treated with antibiotics and antifungal medications.
“It’s important to use, you know, boiled tap water or distilled water,” said Dr. John Flores. “I think that is the utmost importance, you’ve got to assume that something might be living in that tap water that even though we can swallow it, and our stomach can defend us. When it’s going to be shoved up into our sinus cavities, you’re very likely to have a bad outcome.”
The Texas woman bought the RV three months ago. The potable water tank was already filled. It may have been the source of the contaminated water. However, while she was at the site, she was hooked up to the municipal water system. She did nasal irrigation several times before her illness from the RV’s faucet.
Texas RV Guys owner Joshua Baker recommends cleaning an RV’s fresh water tank every three to six months to protect against bacteria. He recommends a water filtration system on RVs but says it shouldn’t be your only safeguard. “Yes, they’re safe. [But] water contamination, things like that that can happen anywhere. I would just go ahead and bring bottled water. It’s affordable. Bring a gallon of water, you know, washing your face with water that you know is clean, drinking water that is clean. I don’t suggest anybody drinking the water out of any RV.”
