Texas Woman Dies After Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection Linked to Nasal Rinse

A woman in Texas has died after contracting a rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, likely due to using tap water in a nasal rinse device. The infection, which is almost always fatal, occurred after the woman used tap water instead of sterile or distilled water.

Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled organism that lives in warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue. Infection is rare, but almost always deadly.

Health officials are investigating the source of the tap water and are urging people to only use distilled or sterile water for nasal rinsing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends boiling tap water for at least one minute and allowing it to cool before using it for nasal rinsing. Alternatively, commercially available sterile or distilled water can be used.

Symptoms of Naegleria fowleri infection include severe headache, fever, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and hallucinations. Symptoms typically start about five days after infection and worsen rapidly. There are very few effective treatments for the infection, so early diagnosis is crucial.

This case serves as a reminder to always use sterile or distilled water when performing nasal rinses to avoid potentially fatal infections.