HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

Should i be concerned about brain-eating amoeba (naegleria fowleri)?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

It is really rare.: In the United States most infections have been found in warm bodies of freshwater in southern states. It is rare. Worldwide, since 1965, > than 144 cases were confirmed. So, I would not lose sleep over it.

Dr Munshower agreed

Answered 8/6/2017

686 views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

Toddler sniffed up well water in nose while taking bath. Concerned about brain eating amoeba?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

I filled a inflatable water slide and now I read you can get brain eating amoeba from it. Im afraid for t children. As they slid down the slide and went into water?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Can symptoms from the brain eating amoeba come for a few hours and suddenly go away and than come back. And is the headache always severe?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

This is a ridiculous question, but if a shirt as been washed and dried more than twice, is it possible for the brain eating amoeba to survive on the shirt? I have ocd so I know its an irrational question?

5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

I live in California and I filled a inflatable water slide. Now i am worried about the brain eating amoeba. I read if you have a faucet that was not used for long time it could harbor the amoeba. Scared to death. I used that faucet. scared for childr?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

Can Naegleria Fowler the brain eating amoeba survive in tap water that is chlorinated? Also can it survive in a washing machine?
Can you get Naegleria Fowleri the brain eating amoeba from tap water? I got tap water up my nose. Or can it not survive in tap water?
Naegleria fowleri: some say 1-12 days of incubation and other sites say 1-14 days, I'm trusting which? my daughter went swimming in a lake in canada 12 days ago and I was afraid for the amoeba so I wonder if I can calm down because no symptoms?
Is Naegleria Fowleri found in indoor dust? Or does drying kill the amoeba?
I used a Neti Pot today for my sinus I used tap water should I be concerned of Brain-Eating Amoeba I read about it today and have myself scared

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.