Watch out! Neti pot can be deadly
Neti pot can carry brain-eating amoeba. It could be an alert for neti pot users after someone died by brain-eating amoeba. How to avoid?????
Neti pots’ brain-eating amoeba causes scare among sinus sufferers
Thorough cleaning and distilled water can reduce risks, say experts
Stuffy sufferers who rely on neti pots for sinus relief face a new threat, but can avoid risks with some simple steps.
The news that two neti pot users in Louisiana died from a brain-eating amoeba has prompted an alert and a health warning from experts.
The pot, which resembles a small watering can or teapot, is still highly recommended by doctors for patients who suffer from sinus congestion.
It’s not the the neti pot itself that can be harmful, it’s the liquid that people use to irrigate sinuses that can cause harm, said Dr. Satish Govindaraj, assistant professor of otolaryngology at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Govindaraj, who recommends the neti pot to many patients, offers this advice:
* Keep it clean: Make sure you wash the pot regularly with hot water and a little antibacterial soap. Clean it every day.
* Don’t use tap water. Govindaraj recommends using distilled water or premixed packages of solution.
* Replace your pot. Get a new one every few months. The hot water and washing can cause the plastic to weaken over time. (Lindsay Goldwert – NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
