Some Dangers Lurking at Your Swimming Spot
Yep, the summer season would soon be here and swimming would be a big part of it. But before we take the plunge we might want to ask the big question, is the water safe?
When you swim you can come across some nasty bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. Oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds can get things from animals, sewage spills, runoff from rainstorms, or other swimmers. And while chlorine kills most of the germs, in places like pools, hot tubs, and splash fountains, it doesn't work instantly.
When you swim you can come across some nasty bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. Oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds can get things from animals, sewage spills, runoff from rainstorms, or other swimmers. And while chlorine kills most of the germs, in places like pools, hot tubs, and splash fountains, it doesn't work instantly.
If you catch something while you're swimming -- wherever you might be -- you're most likely to have these issues. The culprit is most likely to be a parasite like cryptosporidium or girardia. You also could come into contact with, norovirus or bacteria like E.coli or shigella. To protect yourself don't swallow water when you swim. To protect everyone else, stay on the sidelines if you have diarrhea.
Watch out for "Swimmer's Ear" (otitis externa). It's a common infection you can get when you spend a lot of time in any kind of water. Your skin breaks down more easily when it's moist and bacteria can move in. Over-the -counter drops can help prevent it. If you have it, you'll need to see a doctor for antibiotics.
You can get Legionnaires' disease - a type of pneumonia, also called legionellosis, if you breathe in a bacteria called, legionella. The germ can thrive in hot tub that isn't clean enough, and you can breathe it in through the mist or steam. It's one of the most common waterborne illnesses in the US.
A long soak in a tub can give you itchy, bumpy red spots (hot tub rash). The troublemaker is often a germ called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Spas are harder to keep clean than pools because high temperature breaks down chemicals like chlorine faster. That makes a friendlier environment for bacteria. Always shower with soap right after you've been in one, and wash your swimsuit, too.
Sometimes simple plants that grow in oceans and freshwater can grow out of control and make dangerous poison (toxic algae). That's called a harmful algal bloom(HAB), and every US state with a coastline has had them. One type known as cyanobacteria, can give you and rashes and cause problems with your lungs. Don't swim in areas that look scummy and foamy, and pay attention to posted warnings about HABs.
You can get dermatitis also called, swimmer's itch in fresh or saltwater. It's a reaction to a tiny parasite that burrows into your skin. It starts with infected snails, and you're more likely to run into them in shallow areas near the shore. The best way to avoid it is to stay away from marshy places where snails live. And always towel off or shower when you're done swimming.
You can come across bacteria in lakes and rivers that cause, leptospirosis. They get there through the urine of infected animals. The germs go into your body through your eyes, nose, mouth or a cut.Symptoms include diarrhea, red-eyes, headaches, fever and jaundice( yellowish skin or eyes caused by problems with your liver).
A tiny organism found in freshwater spots like, lakes, rivers, and, hot springs, is known as Naegleria fowleri (brain- eating amoeba). It can get in your nose when you swim in contaminated water. Once it's in your body it destroys tissues and is almost always fatal. However, the infection rate in the US is low. There are only about three each year.
If you have red eyes, irritated throat, or a cough after swimming in a pool, it's probably caused by something called chloramines. These form when chemical used to disinfect the pool mixes with things people bring into it: urine, feaces, sweat, and dead skin. Showering before you jump in ( and not using the water as toilet) can help prevent that.
Credit: WebMD
Credit: WebMD
