Woman dies from brain-eating infection after using tap water to wash nose

Daily Record

2 days ago

A 71-year-old woman has died after contracting a rare infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba after she used tap water to rinse her sinuses
A 71 year old woman from Texas tragically lost her life to a brain-eating infection, believed to have been contracted from tap water.
The unfortunate woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, is thought to have fallen victim to an amoeba, a single-celled organism. The county health department suggests she likely picked up the infection after using tap water from an RV's system at a campground to rinse her sinuses.
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Despite the alarming incident, The Texas Department of State Health Services has reassured the public that the local tap water remains safe for consumption. They emphasised that such infections are exceedingly rare and can only enter the human body through the nose.
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However, this tragic case has sparked debate among experts. According to the Daily Mail it "reinforces the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards."
In the United States, deaths caused by brain-eating amoebas are few and far between, usually affecting individuals who have been swimming in warm freshwater bodies like lakes and rivers.
The deadly amoeba, known as Naegleria fowleri, has a high fatality rate, claiming the lives of approximately 97% of those infected. Only a minuscule number of Americans have survived an encounter with this lethal organism, reports the Express.
Texas has emerged as a hotspot for fatalities, ranking among the states with the highest number of amoeba infection cases in US history. A staggering 39 out of the recorded 160 cases have occurred in this state.
The microscopic organism is almost always lethal, causing a disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, or amebic meningitis. Initial symptoms include headache, vomiting and nausea, but as the infection advances, it can lead to cognitive decline, stiff neck and light sensitivity.
In its later stages, the illness causes severe swelling and decay of the brain and spinal cord, which typically results in death. Alarmingly, there are currently no known treatments for the condition.
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In the tragic case from Texas, a woman developed severe neurological symptoms within just four days of infection after using a nasal irrigation device filled with contaminated tap water. She experienced fever, headache and altered mental status.
Despite medics' best efforts to stabilise her condition, she developed seizures and sadly passed away just eight days after the onset of symptoms.
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Following her death, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the presence of N.fowleri in the patient's brain and spinal fluid.
In the US, only three instances are typically reported annually, predominantly during the warmer months when many families flock to lakes and ponds for a refreshing dip.
The amoeba, which is 1200 times tinier than a US dime coin, infiltrates the body through the olfactory nerve by swimming up an individual's nose while they're in the water. This provides it with a direct pathway to the brain, where the infection can then establish itself.
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The duration it takes for the disease to advance varies among individuals, but symptoms usually manifest anywhere from one to nine days post-infection, with death typically ensuing within five days.
Despite the amoeba's extreme rarity, the public is still urged to refrain from swimming in untreated water this summer, particularly in popular holiday destinations like Florida where temperatures can soar rapidly.
Fortunately, as the amoeba exclusively inhabits fresh water, ocean swimming is generally deemed safe.