Woman dies of brain eating amoeba after rinsing sinuses using tap water
A rare case of brain eating amoeba killing a woman has grabbed attention. As per the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) of the US CDC, a woman died due to fatal brain infection caused by the free-living ameba, Naegleria fowleri which she got from nasal irrigation device filled with tap water.“A previously healthy woman aged 71 years developed severe neurologic symptoms, including fever, headache, and altered mental status within 4 days of using a nasal irrigation device filled with tap water from an RV’s water system at a campground in Texas. Despite medical treatment for a suspected PAM infection, the patient developed seizures and subsequently died 8 days after symptom onset. Laboratory testing at CDC confirmed the presence of N. fowleri in the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid,” the US CDC says.“Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare, often fatal brain infection caused by the free-living ameba Naegleria fowleri. Using tap water for nasal irrigation is a risk factor for PAM,” it warns.
What is Naegleria fowleri?
Naegleria fowleri, also known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” is a super rare but extremely dangerous microorganism that lives in warm freshwater—like lakes, rivers, hot springs, and even poorly maintained swimming pools. Despite how scary it sounds (and yes, it is scary), infections from it are extremely uncommon.So what exactly is this thing? Naegleria fowleri is a tiny, single-celled organism that you can’t see without a microscope. It thrives in warm temperatures, especially in water that’s over 30°C (about 86°F). You don’t get sick from drinking water that has it. The real danger happens when the water goes up your nose—usually while swimming, diving, or jumping into warm freshwater.Once it gets up your nose, the amoeba can travel to your brain through the olfactory nerve (the nerve that helps you smell). Once it reaches the brain, it causes a rare but deadly infection called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). And unfortunately, it progresses very quickly—people usually start feeling symptoms within 1 to 12 days, and the disease often leads to death within about 5 days after symptoms start.The early symptoms of PAM can feel like a bad case of meningitis or the flu: headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and a stiff neck. Then it gets worse—confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and eventually coma. Because it progresses so fast and looks like other infections at first, it’s very hard to diagnose in time.To stay safe, avoid getting water up your nose when swimming in warm freshwater—wear nose clips, don’t stir up sediment, and avoid jumping or diving into shallow, warm water. And definitely don’t use tap water to rinse your nose or sinuses unless it’s been properly sterilized or filtered.Naegleria fowleri may sound like something out of a horror movie. Just be smart around warm freshwater, and you’ll likely never come close to encountering it.
