Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis primary prevention

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis primary prevention On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis primary prevention All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis primary prevention
CDC on Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis primary prevention
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis primary prevention in the news
Blogs on Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis primary prevention
Directions to Hospitals Treating Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
Risk calculators and risk factors for Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis primary prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hardik Patel, M.D.

Overview

Personal actions to reduce the risk of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis should focus on limiting the amount of water going up the nose and lowering the chances that Naegleria fowleri may be in the water. Routine, enhanced education of the public in advance of the summer swim season might be helpful.

Primary Prevention

Measures to prevent primary amoebic meningoencephalitis include the following:

• Avoid water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater during periods of high water temperature and low water levels.
• Hold the nose shut or use nose clips when taking part in water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, or hot springs.
• Avoid digging in or stirring up the sediment while taking part in water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas.
• Avoid putting your head under the water in hot springs and other untreated thermal waters.
• Only sterile, distilled, or lukewarm previously boiled water should be used for nasal irrigation or sinus flushes. Use water that has been:
  • Previously boiled for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes) and left to cool or
  • Filtered, using a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller or
  • Purchased with a label specifying that it contains distilled or sterile water.

In very rare instances, Naegleria infections may occur when contaminated water enters the nose, for example when people irrigate their sinuses (nose) using a neti pot.

If you are making a solution for irrigating, flushing, or rinsing your sinuses (for example, by using a neti pot), use the right kind of water to protect yourself.

Copyleft images obtained courtesy of http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/prevention.html