Neti Pots Can Be Deadly If Used Incorrectly

Attention neti pot users! This popular nasal cleanse could be deadly if it is done the wrong way.

Recently, a woman died from a brain-eating amoeba after she used filtered tap water to clear her sinuses. This has many people wondering how to safely use their neti pots.

The 69-year-old woman was using filtered tap water from a Brita Water Purifier in her neti pot, according to a report published in International Journal of Infectious diseases. The woman died from Balamuthia mandrillaris, an amoeba that possibly lives in water and can travel to the brain and cause a deadly infection.

This is not the first time someone has died from an amoeba that was believed to be in the water of the neti pot. In 2013, a man in his 20s, from Louisiana, died from another type of brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. This incident occurred after he used his neti pot to cleanse his sinuses.

What Is a Neti pot?

A neti pot is a teapot-shaped container that is used to rinse out sinuses. This is done to relieve congestion that is related to allergies and colds. Most people use this sinus-cleaning tool at home. They fill the neti pot with a saltwater solution and then pouring the solution into one nostril so that the water runs through the sinuses and out the other nostril.

What Is Sterile Water?

Neti pots require sterile water. According to recommendations from the FDA and the CDC, never use tap water in a neti pot. Only use sterile water. The CDC offers several ways to ensure the water is sterile; boil and then cool the water, use distilled water, filter the water using a filter that removes amoebas, or treat the water with chloride bleach.

The preferred method is to use distilled or cooled boiled water. Distilled water can be purchased at most grocery stores and will be labelled as distilled or sterile. To use cooled boiled water, boil the water for at least one minute and then set to cool. At elevations above 6,500 feet, boil the water for three minutes, according to the CDC.

Filtered water is the next best option. The filter must say “NSF 53” or “NSF 58” or have the words, “cyst removal” or “cyst reduction.”

For those who are unable to use sterilized or filtered using the above method, use a double dose of chlorine bleach and let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is murky, strain it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter before treating it with the bleach as recommended by the CDC.

Clean the Neti Pot

Wash and dry hands before using the neti pot. Make sure the neti pot is cleaned and dried between uses as the FDA recommends.

Neti Pots May Not Be Safe for Young Children

The FDA warns, very young children may be unable to tolerate a nasal rinsing using a neti pot.

By Jeanette Smith

Source:

USA Today: What water is safe to use in a neti pot, and more tips to avoid getting sick

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