The Bad Breath Blog

Yes, you read that title correctly, and no, this article is not about zombies. If you’ve been following this blog even semi-regularly, you know that the mouth, nose and throat can be subject to some strange infections, many of which lead to post-nasal drip, throat pain or bad breath. But quite possibly the strangest pathogen we’ve heard of recently can be spread by improperly used neti pots. It’s called Naegleria fowleri, and it literally eats human brains.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH), two of the state’s residents recently died after getting infected with N.fowleri. This microorganism, known as the so-called “brain-eating amoeba,” is usually found in warm bodies of fresh water. According to experts at Stanford University, it is rare to be infected by this protist. However, those who do get infected – always through the nose – have a 98 percent mortality rate.

So how did N. fowleri get up the noses of the two unfortunate patients who made headlines this month? According to the LDHH, both people used neti pots filled with unclean water.

If you’ve never heard of them, neti pots are small, tea-kettle-like ceramic pots that are used to clean nasal passages, with the intent of eliminating sinus buildup and post-nasal drip. Using one is supposed to be as simple as loading it with water and pouring it in one nostril. However, this cheap method of sinus irrigation can obviously lead to problems.

To treat post-nasal drip without risking having your brains eaten, consider using a specialty device, like the Hydropulse Nasal-Sinus Irrigator, with distilled or sterile water. That way, you can clear your sinuses, reduce your halitosis and keep your gray matter intact!