Can you get brain-eating amoeba from drinking water?

The brain-eating amoeba, known as Naegleria fowleri, is not a risk when drinking water. However, it can cause serious illness if it enters the body through the nose. This usually happens when people swim or dive in warm, fresh water like lakes and rivers.

Key Points:

• Naegleria fowleri is a tiny organism found in warm freshwater.
• It becomes dangerous when it enters the body through the nose, not by drinking.
• Activities like swimming, diving, or using neti pots with contaminated water can pose a risk.

If the amoeba enters the nose, it can travel to the brain and cause a serious infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This condition is very rare but often fatal. To reduce risk, avoid getting water up your nose when swimming and use distilled or boiled water for nasal rinses.