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Recreational Water Illnesses

Recreational water illnesses are those that are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, or oceans. They can cause a wide variety of symptoms including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections. Children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk to suffer from recreational water illnesses.

The most common source of germs and bacteria in the water come from human fecal matter and coincidently diarrhea is the most commonly reported recreational water illness. Infectious diarrhea can contain hundreds of millions to a billion germs in a single fecal accident. Also, did you know that on average people have about 0.14g of feces on their bottoms which can contaminate pool water?!

It is a common misconception that you will not get sick from water that has chlorine in it. Chlorine does kill these germs but it is important to understand that it takes time. Germs are not killed immediately! Even well maintained pools can transmit germs from one person, to the water, and ultimately to you before the chlorine has managed to terminate them.

Disinfectant Times for Fecal Contamination in Chlorinated Water*

E coli 0157:H7 - less than 1 minute

Hepatitis A - approximately 16 minutes

Giardia - approximately 45 minutes

Cryptosporidium - approximately 15300 minutes (10.6days)


 * 1 mg/L (1 ppm) free chlorine at pH 7.5 and 25° C (77° F)

Recreational Water Illness: Children and Infants Diapers on infants will swell once in contact with pool water causing fecal matter to easily leak into the water that everyone is swimming in. Special swim diapers are resistant to swelling in water but are NOT leak proof and may give parents and pool staff a false sense of security regarding fecal contamination. Swim diapers and pants are not a solution for a child with diarrhea or a substitute for frequent diaper changing.

A properly maintained pool with continuous filtration and disinfection of water should help reduce the risk of spreading illness. However, it is still possible to be exposed to billions of germs during the time it takes for chlorine to work or water to be recycled through the filters.

3 "PLEAs" for All Swimmers

Don’t swim when you have diarrhea

Don’t swallow pool water and avoid getting it in your mouth

Practice good hygiene. Take a shower before swimming, wash your hands after using the toilet and/or changing a diaper.

3 "PLEAs" for Parents of Young Kids

Take your kids on regular bathroom breaks and check diapers often (every 30 – 60 minutes)

Change diapers in the bathroom or a diaper changing area, not poolside

Wash your child thoroughly with soap and water (near the rear) before swimming

References:

Center for Disease Control. (2008). Six “PLEAs” For Healthy Swimming: Protection Against Recreational Water Illnesses. Healthy Swimming. Retrieved January, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/6_pleas.htm

Center for Disease Control. (2007). Questions and Answers. Healthy Swimming. Retrieved January, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/w_print.htm

Center for Disease Control. (2007). Swim Diapers and Swim Pants. Healthy Swimming. Retrieved January, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/swim_diapers.htm

Center for Disease Control. (2007). Diarrhea and Spreading Illness at the Pool. Healthy Swimming. Retrieved January, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/diarrhea.htm

Center for Disease Control. (2008). Chlorine Disinfection Time Table. Healthy Swimming. Retrieved January, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/chlorine_timetable.htm