Shigella species and Escherichia coli O157 are two related bacteria that have been linked to outbreaks of illness associated with swimming in pools or similar environ- ments.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are another culprit of swimming pool season. A UTI occurs when bacteria travels up the urethra and travels through the urine into the bladder. The offending bacteria can come from icky pool water, not showering after, or from sitting around in a damp bathing suit.
Worms normally live in dirt, and hard rain can draw them out of the ground. As they try to get out of the rain, they could end up in the pool accidentally if the dirt and plants are too close to the pool water.
In stools, the worms look like small pieces of white cotton thread. Because of their size and white color, pinworms are difficult to see. The male worm is rarely seen because it remains inside the intestine. It is best to search for pinworms at night, when the female comes out to lay her eggs.
RWIs can be spread through use of swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, decorative water fountains, oceans, lakes, and rivers. The most common illness spread through use of swimming pools is diarrhea.
Children can get threadworms when they accidentally get worm eggs on their hands and swallow them. This might happen if they come into contact with people with worms or with worm-infected dust, toys or bed linen.
The key is to break the 6-week cycle of pinworm reinfection by killing any live pinworms and preventing the ingestion of eggs. A diagnosis should be confirmed before treating with medications. Medications kill only the adult worms and have no effect on developing eggs and larvae.
Doorknobs, toilet seats, furniture, countertops, cell phones, remote controls, and other shared surfaces the infected person may have touched, as eggs can survive up to 3 weeks on indoor surfaces.
Cryptosporidium infection is contagious, so take precautions to avoid spreading the parasite to other people.
Germs can be found almost anywhere, including in swimming pools and hot tubs. This means that proper cleaning and maintenance of your pool and hot tub are essential to preventing getting sick while swimming.
SUMMER VAGINAL INFECTIONSThe balance of the vaginal environment may be disrupted by various factors inherent to the summer season, including swimming, heat and humidity. This imbalance leads to the proliferation of fungi called Candida albicans, which is often at the root of vaginal yeast infections.
When a person who is sick with diarrhea gets in the water, that tiny amount of poop on their body can wash into the water around them and contaminate it with germs. If someone else swallows the contaminated water, they can become infected.
The bottom line: We're vastly better off having pool chemicals than not, and chemically treated pools are generally safe to swim in, especially if they are well maintained and ventilated.
