Washing your nose with unboiled tap water carries the risk of contamination with Naegleria fowleri, a rare but deadly amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater sources, including lakes, rivers, and occasionally municipal water supplies. If tap water is used for nasal rinsing without first being boiled or properly sterilized, the amoeba can enter the nasal passages, where it may travel to the brain via the olfactory nerve.
Once inside the brain, Naegleria fowleri causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a severe and often fatal infection that destroys brain tissue. Although infections are extremely rare, the consequences are devastating, and the amoeba thrives in warm climates, increasing the likelihood of its presence in certain water systems.
To reduce the risk, always use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water for nasal irrigation, such as with a neti pot or sinus rinse.
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