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Are you aware that public swimming pools and shared water
areas can be very efficient spreaders of disease? If you or your
children have ever gone swimming in public places, especially
pools and then ended up with illness consider these facts:
Giardia and Cryptosporidium cysts are extremely resistant
to chlorine and may remain infective for several days in swimming
pool water containing even the recommended chlorine concentrations.
In addition, because of their small size, these may not be removed
efficiently by conventional pool filters.
How did Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E.coli and other "bugs"
get into the pool? Through fecal matter. People having accidents
in the pool. This could be formed stools or diarrhea.
To prevent transmission, persons with diarrhea should not
swim. As well, it is unlikely that those swim diapers can keep
fecal matter from leaking into the pool. Swimmers should avoid
swallowing pool water, and persons should practice good hygiene
before swimming, after using the restroom, and after changing
a diaper.
To educate yourself on this and possibly avoid illness in
your family, visit these pages provided by The Center for Disease
Control.
A very informative page with many articles: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasiticpathways/swimming/faq_swimmers.htm
and some printable fact sheets: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming
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Copyright © 2001 This Health tip
is provided by Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac.
Jeannie publishes Healthy Living newsletter. She shares health
answers that work, tips, nutrition suggestions and research.
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