Neti Pots Implicated in Rare Ameoba-caused Deaths

Health department officials from Louisiana have reported two deaths caused by the improper use of neti pots. These increasingly popular devices are used to irrigate, flush, or rinse the sinuses–often with tap water. Tap water may contain Naegleria fowleri, an ameoba that can migrate from the sinuses to the brain and is usually fatal. Typically these rare infections occur from swimming or diving in warm freshwater.

PositiveTip: Use only distilled, sterile or boiled water in neti pots–and rinse the pot well and allow to completely air dry between uses.