Be careful when rinsing your nose!

Nasal rinses are a good idea during colds and allergies. However, it is essential to use a suitable liquid, not just tap water ...

This 𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 helps relieve 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and is even used as part of post-operative care in nasal surgery. Nasal irrigation consists in pouring salt water (saline solution or sea water) into the nasal cavity. The principle is simple: first, you tilt your head to one side and force the liquid into the nostril on the opposite side, so that it passes from one nostril to the other and 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞. Then do the same on the other side. However, it is vital to 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐝...

Simply using tap water can expose the body to two types of amoebae, 𝐴𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑒𝑏𝑎 and 𝑁𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑖, commonly 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐩 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫. Infections due to these two amoebae are very rare, but cases have been reported in the USA and Pakistan and were apparently caused by nasal irrigations made with tap water. The outcome of these infections is 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥, unless treated early.

Even though these infections are very rare, nasal rinses should always be made with 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫. If these types of water are not available, tap water can be used but only if boiled for at least 5 minutes and then allowed to cool before nasal rinsing.