Neti Pots are designed to clear the nasal pathway and ease breathing among those with congested sinuses, colds and allergies. While these devices are usually safe, the FDA warns filling them with tap water and not properly following user instructions can result in infection.
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“Tap water isn’t safe for use as a nasal rinse because it’s not adequately filtered or treated,” said the FDA in the consumer update. “Some tap water contains low levels of organisms — such as bacteria and protozoa, including amoebas — that may be safe to swallow because stomach acid kills them. But in your nose, these organisms can stay alive in nasal passages and cause potentially serious infections. They can even be fatal in some rare cases.”
The FDA recommends using distilled or sterile water, boiling tap water and letting it cool until lukewarm, or using a filter designed to trap infectious organisms when treating nasal congestion with a Neti Pot.
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