Abstract

In a world where the search for natural and simple solutions for everyday health problems is increasingly widespread, practices such as nasal irrigation with tap water have gained popularity for relief from conditions such as rhinosinusitis. However, this seemingly harmless practice hides an invisible and potentially fatal risk: infection by Naegleria fowleri. Known as the “brain-eating amoeba”, this microscopic threat turns a personal care gesture into a potential deadly danger. This review emphasizes the implications of using untreated water for nasal irrigation, highlighting the critical importance of water choice as a means of prevention against primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

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Authors

Cristiana Indolfi - Department of Woman, Child and of General and Specialized Surgery, AOU University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy

Simone Colosimo - Department of Woman, Child and of General and Specialized Surgery, AOU University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy

Gianluca Mondillo - Department of Woman, Child and of General and Specialized Surgery, AOU University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy

Alessandra Perrotta - Department of Woman, Child and of General and Specialized Surgery, AOU University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy

Vittoria Frattolillo - Department of Woman, Child and of General and Specialized Surgery, AOU University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy

Fabio Decimo - Department of Woman, Child and of General and Specialized Surgery, AOU University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy

Michele Miraglia del Giudice - Department of Woman, Child and of General and Specialized Surgery, AOU University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy

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Copyright (c) 2025 Italian Journal of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

How to Cite
Indolfi, C., Colosimo, S., Mondillo, G., Perrotta, A., Frattolillo, V., Decimo, F., & Miraglia del Giudice, M. (2025). Naegleria fowleri, the “brain-eating amoeba”: an invisible enemy in nasal irrigation with untreated water . Italian Journal of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 38(4). https://doi.org/10.53151/2531-3916/2024-562
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