Do not use tap water.
Many individuals suffering from sinus problems resort to using neti pots or nasal rinsing to alleviate their congested airways. However, a recent report reveals a concerning trend where many ignore the standard advice of avoiding tap water, leading to potentially fatal amoebic infections.
Led by Julia Halston and her team at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the study highlights a widespread misconception among nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults who believe tap water is safe for nasal rinsing. Despite this belief, tap water often originates from sources like rivers and lakes, which may harbor dangerous amoebas such as Acanthamoeba, capable of causing severe human infections.
These infections can manifest in various forms, including granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE), a potentially lethal type of encephalitis affecting the central nervous system. Additionally, waterborne amoebic infections have been linked to skin diseases, rhinosinusitis, pulmonary diseases, and osteomyelitis.
Individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those with diabetes, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, individuals with HIV, and organ transplant recipients, are at the highest risk of Acanthamoeba infections. The report reviews ten documented cases of Acanthamoeba infections resulting from nasal rinsing between 1994 and 2022, with the majority occurring within the past decade. Tragically, 82% of those infected with non-skin Acanthamoeba infections succumbed to the illness.
The study emphasizes the importance of using sterile water for nasal rinsing to mitigate the risk of amoebic infections. Despite evidence of amoebas in U.S. tap water samples, a significant portion of the population erroneously believes tap water to be sterile and safe for nasal rinsing. Dispelling this misinformation and promoting the use of sterile water for nasal rinsing is crucial in preventing invasive Acanthamoeba infections, as emphasized by Halston and her colleagues.
Published in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases on March 13, the report serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with disregarding safety precautions in nasal rinsing practices.
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