What Are Diseases Associated with Swimming Pools? Dr Badran Answers

Although chlorine is effective at killing most harmful organisms in pool water, not all are easily killed. Skin, ear, nose, throat, and respiratory disease have been linked to swimming. Chlorine doesn’t kill germs right away. While it kills most germs within minutes, some can live in a properly chlorinated pool for days.

Infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and molds, may threaten the health of swimming pool bathers. Viruses are a major cause of recreationally associated waterborne diseases linked to pools. They can make their way into waters through the accidental release of fecal matter, body fluids (saliva, mucus), or skin flakes by symptomatic or asymptomatic carriers.

Swimmer's Ear

When we swim, it is very common to have water enter our ear and nose cavity. While that is temporary and gets out on its own, there is a nasty condition that can arise when the water gets trapped in the passageway or ear canal - thereby allowing bacteria and some kinds of fungi to grow in the moist places. These bacterial infections, while they can go away on their own, can cause bad swelling, pain ,terrible itching, and temporary hearing loss or decreased hearing. It is also more common in kids than adults.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is not just a stomach problem that happens when you eat something bad. The pool can also become infected with disease-causing germs like E.coli, Shigella, cryptosporidium norovirus when somebody, who has suffered from diarrhea (even in the last two weeks) enters the swimming pool. The germs can stay alive for up to five days! This can turn infectious and last for 2-3 weeks, often turning life-threatening.

Cryptosporidium (also known as crypto), a parasite that can cause a gastrointestinal illness such as diarrhea. Cryptosporidium is shed in the feces of humans. The parasite enters the pool water through fecal accidents and by bathers who carry the organism on their skin. Swimmers are infected when they swallow contaminated pool water. Once [crypto] gets into the pool water and it's exposed to chlorine levels that you would expect to see in a well-operated pool, it can survive for more than seven days. If swallowed, the parasite can cause diarrhea that lasts more than three days — and this can be especially dangerous for older adults.

Giardia

Giardia is a tiny parasite (germ) that causes diarrhea. The diarrhea is watery, sometimes foul-smelling that may alternate with soft, greasy stools. This germ is found in the fecal matter of a person who has been infected by Giardia. It has a tough outer shell that allows it to survive for up to 45 minutes even in properly chlorinated pools. Once outside the body, Giardia can sometimes survive for weeks or even months.

Giardia is a common cause of recreational water illness (disease caused by germs spread through pool water) and can cause prolonged diarrhea (for 1–2 weeks).

Giardiasis can be spread by swallowing unsafe food or water contaminated with Giardia germs, having close contact with someone who has giardiasis, particularly in childcare settings, traveling within areas that have poor sanitation, exposure to poop through sexual contact from someone who is sick or recently sick with Giardia, transferring Giardia germs picked up from contaminated surfaces (such as bathroom handles, changing tables, diaper pails, or toys) into your mouth, and having contact with infected animals or animal environments contaminated with poop.

Respiratory Infections

Swimmers are at risk for respiratory infections if they breathe in small droplets of water (mist) from a pool or hot tub that contains harmful germs.

Needless to say, for those with breathing disorders and pulmonary issues, assuring safety and cleanliness in the swimming pool is of utmost importance. Even if the swimming pool is moderately contaminated, certain germs like bacterium Legionella can infest or collect in the nooks and crevices and even disperse along with the steam or mist. It can be very easy to ingest this, which can then lead to breathing trouble. People who are 50 and older, young children and pregnant women, and those suffering from chronic infections and low immunity should be extremely cautious about this as such germy diseases can also turn fatal.

Chlorine Rash

A chlorine rash develops after the skin comes into contact with chlorine. Chlorine is a chemical used to disinfect pools. It can significantly irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. When a person develops a rash after coming into contact with chlorine, they are experiencing a condition called irritant contact dermatitis.

As when other irritants cause contact dermatitis, exposure to chlorine can result in an itchy red rash and raw, swollen skin. A person may also experience sore eyes or signs of respiratory irritation, such as frequent coughing or sneezing.

Not everyone who swims in a chlorinated pool or sits in a chlorinated hot tub will develop a rash. Chlorine rashes are most common after repeated exposure to the chemical.

Prevention Tips

Pool filters should be operated at least 8-12 hours per day depending on pool use. Don't swim if you have diarrhea or have suffered from diarrhea within the past two weeks. Shower before you swim. Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet. Rinsing off in the shower for 1-minute removes most of the dirt or anything else on your body that uses up pool chemicals to kill germs. Most people have about 0.14 grams of feces — comparable to a few grains of sand — on their body at any given time. Don’t swallow the water. Chlorine kills most germs within minutes; it doesn't kill germs instantly.

Have kids? Take frequent bathroom breaks. For those who are very little, check diapers every hour and change them away from the water to keep germs from contaminating it. Don't allow pets in the pool.

Beware of red eyes and a strong “chlorine” smell. The smell comes from a chemical irritant called chloramine that occurs when chlorine combines with what washes off swimmers’ bodies. Chloramine also causes red, blood-shot eyes. An abundance of chloramine likely means there is an excess of urine, feces or sweat in the pool. It also means there’s less chlorine remaining in the water to kill germs. Shower immediately before and after swimming in a chlorinated pool. Space out periods of chlorine exposure to give the skin time to heal. limit the amount of time spent in chlorinated water. Refrain from swimming in overly chlorinated pools.

Protect open cuts or wounds. Dry ears thoroughly after swimming or wear a bathing cap or ear plugs to prevent swimmer’s ear, an infection in the outer ear canal. The bacterial infection is more common in children.

After getting out of water for the day, remove your swimsuit and lather up to kill any germs clinging to your skin. Wash your swimsuit, too — this prevents “hot tub rash,” an itchy red bump that can fill with pus around hair follicles.