How Swimming Can Make You Sick

by CDC

How can swimming make you sick?

Most recreational water illness (RWI) reported is diarrheal illness, which is spread by swallowing contaminated water.

In addition, swimming in water contaminated with germs can also cause infections in your eyes, nose, ears, and in cuts and scrapes.

People in the pool share the water with everyone else in the pool. If someone with diarrhea contaminates the water, swallowing the water can make people sick. Recreational water can also be contaminated by fecal matter rinsed off of the bodies of swimmers. When people are ill with diarrhea their stool can contain millions of germs. Therefore, swimming when ill with diarrhea can easily contaminate the water and, if the pool water is swallowed, can make you sick.

How does water get contaminated?

Pools can be contaminated by persons who swim while experiencing diarrhea and have a fecal accident.

Swimming pools, waterparks, hot tubs, and spas can also be contaminated by germs that are rinsed off swimmer's bodies including their rear ends. In addition, lakes, rivers, and the ocean can be contaminated by sewage spills, animal waste, and water runoff.

Diarrrheal accidents are not easily noticed and as a result could contaminate even the best-maintained pool. Plus, some germs like Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium) are resistant to chlorine and can live in even the best-maintained pools for several days. What kinds of illnesses can people get from swimming?

• Diarrheal illness
• Skin rashes
• Ear infections
• Eye infections
• Respiratory infections

These recreational water illnesses (RWIs) have been linked to swimming. However, reports to CDC show that diarrhea is one of the most common RWIs. Diarrheal illness is spread when infected germs from human or animal feces gets into the water. If the contaminated water is swallowed it can cause people to become ill.

Can swimming pools spread head lice?

Not likely. Lice survive by holding onto hair and are not likely to let go when someone's head goes under water. It would be rare to find lice floating in pool water. It is more likely that head lice are spread by sharing towels or other items that have been in contact with an infested person's hair. Teach your children not to share towels, hair brushes, etc., either at poolside or in the changing room.

Be aware that swimming or washing hair within 1-2 days after treating with anti-lice shampoo will make the treatment less effective.

Can people get a recreational water illness (RWI) from swimming in the ocean?

Yes. Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) have been associated with swimming at ocean beaches. Some common germs can live for long periods of time in salt water. Swimmers should always avoid swallowing the water that they and others swim in.

Can people get a recreational water illness (RWI) from swimming in fresh water lakes and rivers?

Yes. Lakes and rivers can become contaminated with germs from sewage, animal waste, water runoff, as well as direct human contamination from fecal accidents and germs rinsed off the bottoms of swimmers. Avoid swimming in areas that have been identified as unsafe by health departments. Contact your state/local health department about germ-testing results for local recreational water.

Some germs that live in fresh water normally don't infect humans. For example, Naegleria (nuh-GLEER-e-uh) is a germ that is found throughout the world. Naegleria is found in warm, stagnant bodies of water and can cause severe illness. Naegleria enters the body through the nose when you are swimming underwater or diving into water. Persons can prevent Naegleria infection by not swimming in small shallow ponds or areas posted by local health authorities as "No Swimming." Swimmers should hold their nose or use nose plugs when jumping or diving into water.

Can people get a recreational water illness (RWI) from using hot tubs and spas?

Yes. Skin infections are the most common RWI spread through hot tubs and spas. Given that hot tubs and spas have warmer water than pools, chlorine or other disinfectant levels evaporate faster. For that reason, it is important that chlorine or disinfectant levels in hot tubs and spas are checked even more regularly than in swimming pools.

Can people get a recreational water illness (RWI) from playing and wading in decorative or interactive water fountains?

Yes. Several diarrheal illness outbreaks have been caused by playing and swallowing contaminated water in fountains. Not all decorative or interactive water fountains are chlorinated and filtered. Therefore when people, especially diaper-aged children, play in or soak themselves with the water jets, they can contaminate the water with fecal matter. This may spread germs that can make people sick.

Doesn't chlorine kill all germs found in swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas?

Yes, chlorine does kill all germs but it takes time.

A few germs can survive in chlorinated water for several hours to several days in pools, hot tubs, and spas and you can therefore get infected. It is important to maintain proper levels of chlorine to kill germs. However, be aware that even the best-maintained pools can spread illness.

About the Author

www.cdc.gov
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves.