How to avoid bacterial infection when swimming in the pool

[New Sancai Compilation and First Release] Swimming is a good sport, and many people are accustomed to going to the swimming pool to exercise or play in the water and relieve stress.

But there may be many viruses or bacteria lurking in swimming pools that can harm your health. Although disinfectant chlorine and certain chemicals are added to swimming pool water to kill viruses and bacteria, some bacteria may still survive in the pool or in the air in the area.

According to U.S. news media reports, the most common disease contracted from swimming is diarrhea. The report pointed out that if swimmers develop diarrhea, possible causes include infection with Escherichia coli, norovirus, Shigella, Cryptosporidium, Giardia and other microorganisms. Although the concentration of bactericidal substances in the swimming pool can be effectively sterilized if the concentration is controlled correctly, it is still impossible to completely eliminate bacteria, so swimmers may still be infected by bacteria.

Cryptosporidium is the most difficult to eradicate with chlorine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to statistics, more than 100,000 cases of Cryptosporidium have been infected during a certain period of time due to swimming in pools, bathing in bathtubs, and playing in water play areas. Among infectious diseases, Cryptosporidium accounts for nearly half. And people with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to this parasite.

Experts recommend taking a shower before and after swimming. If there are wounds on the body, it is best to isolate and protect them, or wait until the wounds are healed before swimming. If you take young children to play in the swimming pool, you must take good cleaning and protective measures for the children. In particular, keep the children's hands clean at all times, because children often touch their mouth, nose, and eyes with their hands, and do not let the children's excrement contaminate the pool water. . Experts also warn against urinating in swimming pools because chemicals in swimming pool water may penetrate into the human body and cause adverse reactions in the body, posing a threat to the heart and lungs.

The ears are another organ that is susceptible to damage from swimming pool water, as the ear canal can easily be invaded by pool water and cause disease. Pool water damages the skin by destroying the protective oils in the skin of the ear canal, allowing bacteria to multiply in it. Symptoms caused by pool water include redness and swelling, itching and pain, inflammation and pus discharge. Always dry your ears thoroughly after swimming and carefully drain water from the ear canal to prevent infection. Use earplugs or a swimming cap to protect your ears. Experts say that after drying the ears, you can use a hair dryer with low speed and low temperature and keep it far away from the ears to dry the ear canals. However, do not blow with strong wind to avoid blowing moisture into the ears instead. deeper inside, or damage to the eardrum.

Chemicals in swimming pool water can also irritate eyes and skin and cause skin rashes or cause coughing. American news media reported that human sweat and urine can turn into irritating chemicals when combined with chlorine and various dirt in pool water. The CDC says the irritant, called chloramines, can cause red eyes, itchy eyes, rashes, nasal irritation, coughing and asthma, and if the pH of the pool water is not It can also cause skin and eye irritation when maintained correctly.

Therefore, if you want to go swimming in the swimming pool, you must take protective measures to enjoy the fun of playing in the water.

(Compiled by: Mulian)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)