The use of neti pots and other types of nasal irrigation has been linked to Acanthamoeba infections, an amoeba that may be found in non-sterile water, according to the CDC. Neti pots are commonly used to flush the nasal passages, helping to alleviate allergy symptoms or clear mucus during a sinus infection. The saline solution is poured into one nostril and flows through the nasal passages, exiting the other nostril.
Ten people with Acanthamoeba infections reported practicing nasal irrigation before being infected, with three of them succumbing to the infection. Acanthamoeba can cause two dangerous infections: Acanthamoeba keratitis, affecting the eyes with symptoms like pain, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light, and Granulomatous Encephalitis, an infection of the brain and spinal cord leading to severe symptoms like headaches, confusion, seizures, and hallucinations, often resulting in death.
