# Good God - there's an amoeba that crawls up your nose and eats your brain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 28, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869 "2007-09-28T21:18:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/1 "2007-09-28T21:18:17Z")
I thought that little catfish that swam up your urethra was creepy. Now I learn that there’s a species of amoeba that lives in warm water, can swim up your nose, and [eat your brain](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/28/national/a111812D52.DTL&tsp=1)? Suffering Christ on a surfboard! Is this thing native to the U.S.? If I had known about this years ago, I’d never have jumped in a freshwater lake! Apparently they can even be found in dirty swimming pools, too! Gah! ::shudder:: ---
**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:** [September 28, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/2 "2007-09-28T21:26:21Z")
Cool. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/3 "2007-09-28T21:28:41Z")
Couldn’t he just crawl up my urethra and eat my fish? ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/4 "2007-09-28T21:29:46Z")
**Flander GF** - “Not tonight honey, I have a headache.” **Flander** - “Goddamn cock-blocking amoeba! Why does amoeba get head and not me?!?” Seriously though, between that and flesh-eating bacteria, it’s not wonder some people are germaphobes! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/5 "2007-09-28T21:38:36Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Cool. [/QUOTE] Actually, no. It’s killed three young children in Orlando(ish). We went to a freshwater lake for Mother’s Day…it’s scary to think playing in the water can kill you. This is very serious. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/6 "2007-09-28T21:43:28Z")
My understanding is that it primarily attacks children. Apparently, children’s noses haven’t developed all the way, and that allows the amoeba to reach the brain. Personally, I can’t think of a worse way to go. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/7 "2007-09-28T21:47:52Z")
I knew there was [something](http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/3/33/180px-Brain_slug.JPG) that this story reminded me of. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/8 "2007-09-28T22:07:09Z")
This is nothing new-the amoeba that does this si present in all fresh watr. It multiplies fas under conditions of high mineral content and warm ( 70 F) water. A woman in England died the same way, a few years ago-she had been swimming in the Roman Baths in Bath, England. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/9 "2007-09-28T22:13:13Z")
The Army warns against it. [http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/PAM.htm](http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/PAM.htm) It’s present in the hot springs in Bath, England. [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=167479](http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=167479) ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/10 "2007-09-28T22:17:23Z")
[QUOTE=teela brown] I knew there was [something](http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/3/33/180px-Brain_slug.JPG) that this story reminded me of. [/QUOTE] [monotone]I got you an official SDMB hat. [/monotone] ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/11 "2007-09-28T22:19:05Z")
[QUOTE=Lightnin’] My understanding is that it primarily attacks children. Apparently, children’s noses haven’t developed all the way, and that allows the amoeba to reach the brain. [/quote] At least I’m safe! Unless I have an underdeveloped nose. > [@](#): > > Personally, I can’t think of a worse way to go. Even with the penis-fish suggested in-thread? ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/12 "2007-09-28T22:44:01Z")
There are all kinds of random, freaky ways you can die. There’s no point in worrying about them all, there’s nothing you can do anyway. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/13 "2007-09-28T23:14:40Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] it’s scary to think playing in the water can kill you. [/QUOTE] :dubious: I heard that merely _inhaling_ water can be fatal to young and old alike! ---
**Author:** ![Enterprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/76d3ee/32.png) [@Enterprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enterprise)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/14 "2007-09-28T23:35:12Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Actually, no. It’s killed three young children in Orlando(ish). We went to a freshwater lake for Mother’s Day…it’s scary to think playing in the water can kill you. This is very serious. [/QUOTE] Hhhm. The link says that there’s been 23 dead in the US in 10 years. That’s two dead a year. Fewer people have died in ten years from this amoeba than died in 1995/96 from [dog bites](http://http://0-www.cdc.gov.mill1.sjlibrary.org/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00047723.htm), and it’s about 25 times less likely you’ll die from these amoeba than from [lightning strikes](http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/PrevGuid/m0052833/m0052833.asp). I’m not sure I’d call that very serious. Scary, sure. Serious…no. Keep an eye on it, though. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/15 "2007-09-28T23:55:08Z")
I’m pretty sure rabies actually kills more people than this thing. Do you go around worrying about rabies or lightning strikes? No? Well, then there’s really no cause for alarm. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/16 "2007-09-28T23:59:35Z")
No cause for alarm. OTOH, I’m glad to be living where the lakes are always cold. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/17 "2007-09-29T00:02:26Z")
My neighbor ended up with one of [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taenia_solium) entangled around her brain after she ate a pork taco in Mexico. The thing nearly killed her. The surgeons were never able to remove it all because it’s so intertwined inside her even though it’s dead now. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/18 "2007-09-29T00:03:00Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] There are all kinds of random, freaky ways you can die. There’s no point in worrying about them all, there’s nothing you can do anyway. [/QUOTE] Yah, there are plenty of scary, but rare, things out there that occasionally pop up in the news. I did my senior year pathology final paper on _Baylisascaris procyonis_, not an amoeba, but a worm ingested fecal-orally that can bore a hole into your brain. Stay out of the sandbox if there are raccoons native to your area! Oh wait, raccoons are everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Enterprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/76d3ee/32.png) [@Enterprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enterprise)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/19 "2007-09-29T00:08:28Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Yah, there are plenty of scary, but rare, things out there that occasionally pop up in the news. I did my senior year pathology final paper on _Baylisascaris procyonis_, not an amoeba, but a worm ingested fecal-orally that can bore a hole into your brain. Stay out of the sandbox if there are raccoons native to your area! Oh wait, raccoons are everywhere. [/QUOTE] Happily, it appears that this is curable, which is why it made such a good episode of [_House_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lines_in_the_Sand_%28House_episode%29) , and the vicious unstoppable brain amoebas won’t. Lest they become curable. In which case, I assure you they’ll pop up on _House_. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869/20 "2007-09-29T00:32:36Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Yah, there are plenty of scary, but rare, things out there that occasionally pop up in the news. I did my senior year pathology final paper on _Baylisascaris procyonis_, not an amoeba, but a worm ingested fecal-orally that can bore a hole into your brain. Stay out of the sandbox if there are raccoons native to your area! Oh wait, raccoons are everywhere. [/QUOTE] I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’m perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands of times more likely to die in a car crash. Should I stay home and insist on telecommuting so I can avoid the San Mateo Bridge idiots? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-god-theres-an-amoeba-that-crawls-up-your-nose-and-eats-your-brain/420869.md?page=2)