NBC News
A Texas woman died because of an infection caused by a brain -eating ameba days after cleaning the sinuses with tap water, according to a report by the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC, in English).
The 71 -year -old woman and otherwise healthy, developed “serious neurological symptoms”, such as fever, headache and alteration of the mental state, four days after filling a nasal irrigation device with tap water from its caravan in a Texas camping site, the CDC report said.
It was treated by primary amoebian meningephalitis (PAM), a cerebral infection caused by Naegleria Fowleri, often called “brain devouring ameba”, according to CDC. Despite the treatment, the woman suffered seizures and died because of the infection eight days after developing the symptoms, according to the agency.
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of ameba in the cerebrospinal fluid of women, the report said ..
The CDC said that the infection usually occurs after “recreational activities in the water”, but noted that cleaning the nasal sinuses with non -distilled water is also a risk factor to develop PAM.
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An investigation carried out by the agency revealed that the woman had not recently been exposed to the fresh water, but that she had made Nasal irrigations with unbeated water from a drinking water tap of the motorhome “on several occasions” before getting sick.
The investigation revealed that the drinking water tank had been filled before the woman bought the motorhome three months ago, and that there could be contaminated water. The investigation also concluded that the municipal water system, which was connected to the drinking water system and did not go through the water tank of the motorhome, could have caused pollution.
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The agency highlighted the importance of Use distilled, sterilized or boiled and cold water of the tap when performing nasal irrigation to reduce the risk of infections and diseases.
