# Brain Eating Amoebia, im freaking out? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634 "2013-08-07T20:51:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/21 "2013-08-08T01:56:46Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The best thing to do is pray the sick away. That is probably why the survival rate is 2% instead of a more realistic 1% that you would expect without the power of prayer. So you are saying praying DOUBLES THE CHANCES of survival? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/22 "2013-08-08T02:26:21Z")
> [@thanatic](#): > > but now im constantly worried about getting this brain eating amoebia… its constantly on my mind If you have brain eating amoebia constantly on your mind, you’re pretty much screwed. If I was you I’d be stuffing mustard, ketchup, maybe some little sachets of chili sauce up my nose at this point. I mean, if they’re going to eat your brain you may as well be a good sport about it and let them enjoy the experience. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/23 "2013-08-08T02:33:36Z")
> [@FaerieBeth](#): > > **Thanatic** , did you snort a bunch of water up your nose? That’s it’s entry point, I’m given to understand. Actually, they can come up the butthole as well, and eat their way up. OP, you did not specify, were you wearing anal protection? ---
**Author:** ![mandala](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mandala/32/95_2.png) [@mandala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandala)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/24 "2013-08-08T02:36:06Z")
OP, what is the reason you are not worried about contracting these other diseases - necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating bacteria), cholera, dysentry, leptospirosis, to name but a few. If there was a sewer leakage, you are pretty much vulnerable to the entire laundry list of water-borne infections. Post back after a week to show us you’re still alive, good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/25 "2013-08-08T02:38:13Z")
I am so disappointed in all of you. The OP actually said that “its constantly on my mind” and you didn’t run with that? What, is the wrong “it’s” so contagious? ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/26 "2013-08-08T02:59:10Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I am so disappointed in all of you. The OP actually said that “its constantly on my mind” and you didn’t run with that? What, is the wrong “it’s” so contagious? Honestly, the wrong it’s and the OP’s spelling generally made me think that it might be too late already ☹ ---
**Author:** ![thanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@thanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thanatic)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/27 "2013-08-08T03:08:10Z")
i heard though that this ameobia is more prevelent in shallow waters then deep, open waters ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/28 "2013-08-08T03:14:47Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I remember when neti pot users freaked out because 2 people in Louisiana got it. But the odds are millions to one, probably a lot less if you don’t live in areas like Louisiana. I’m a water microbiologist and a former neti pot user for exactly this reason. Neti pots are the _perfect_ delivery system for Naegleria. In both of these cases, the household plumbing was contaminated, causing contamination of the water. We don’t understand Naegleria very well at all, so theories about how the pipes became contaminated are pure speculation. With such a high case fatality rate, I’m not going to risk it. I do, however, still swim in freshwater. The low risk of contamination plus the low risk of getting water into your sinuses is enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/29 "2013-08-08T03:18:00Z")
> [@cougar58](#): > > Don’t forget about the college girl, zip lining, fell into a pond. Whatever was in that pond, slowly ate her arms and legs. Brain was fine. That was necrotizing fasciitis due to Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Unfortunately for those of you with phobias, Aeromonas is found in nearly all fresh surface waters. You can even find it in treated drinking water. The risk here is a deep penetrating wound that isn’t cleaned properly. ---
**Author:** ![thanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@thanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thanatic)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/30 "2013-08-08T03:52:18Z")
i heard though that this ameobia is more prevelent in shallow waters then deep, open waters ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/31 "2013-08-08T04:04:01Z")
> [@Red\_Stilettos](#): > > I’m a water microbiologist and a former neti pot user for exactly this reason. Neti pots are the _perfect_ delivery system for Naegleria. In both of these cases, the household plumbing was contaminated, causing contamination of the water. We don’t understand Naegleria very well at all, so theories about how the pipes became contaminated are pure speculation. With such a high case fatality rate, I’m not going to risk it. > > I do, however, still swim in freshwater. The low risk of contamination plus the low risk of getting water into your sinuses is enough for me. I sometimes use a neti pot, and I always boil the water first. Yes, I let it cool before I use it. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/32 "2013-08-08T04:36:23Z")
Remember mad cow disease? One of the first things the US did was ban beef imports from the UK, even though it only killed like, one in a million. Well, now it’s our turn. I’m going to import my warm lake water from elsewhere from now on. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/33 "2013-08-08T05:03:11Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I am so disappointed in all of you. The OP actually said that “its constantly on my mind” and you didn’t run with that? What, is the wrong “it’s” so contagious? What about my post #22? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/34 "2013-08-08T05:47:37Z")
> [@thanatic](#): > > i heard though that this ameobia is more prevelent in shallow waters then deep, open waters Yeah, you’re probably a goner. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/35 "2013-08-08T11:15:09Z")
OP, are you there? Brains still intact and not dripping out your nose? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/36 "2013-08-08T11:36:17Z")
I recall that the famous Roman baths in Bath, England were closed to swimming because a girl died of this disease-do most hot springs contain this amoebia? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/37 "2013-08-08T12:20:43Z")
> [@thanatic](#): > > i heard though that this ameobia is more prevelent in shallow waters then deep, open waters It’s in all the water. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/38 "2013-08-08T12:26:28Z")
_Tablerock Lake is a scene you should make With your little Sheba Keep it in mind if you’re looking to find A brain-eating fatal amoeba Swim in the cove, then collapse in the grove And wind up in the emergency room At Tablerock Lake a casual swim will lead you to your doom_ Good luck. You should be fine, really. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/39 "2013-08-08T15:22:32Z")
130 cases since the CDC has been tracking it is a very, very low number of infections, given the millions of folks who swim in fresh water. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634/40 "2013-08-08T15:25:42Z")
> [@thanatic](#): > > interesting Short responses are one of the first symptoms of the amoeba. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-eating-amoebia-im-freaking-out/665634.md?page=3)