With the Eid holiday falling in June, many people flocked to holiday resorts. The intensity in the pools, which are indispensable for hot summer days, can make this fun annoying. Drawing attention to the risks posed by insufficient cleaning and disinfection in common pools, experts warn against infections that can be caught!
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Songül Özer made important warnings about pool infections.
Chlorine in the pool does not kill germs!
Specialist. Dr. Songül Özer stated that especially pools cause many infections and said the following:
"The most important factor in the occurrence of these infections is the lack of cleaning and disinfection in the pools used in common. Chlorine is used intensively for disinfection of water in pools, but chlorine cannot kill microorganisms very quickly. Some microorganisms may even be resistant to chlorine. The same danger applies to environments where water vapor is present, such as saunas and spas. In such environments, inhalation of water vapor can also cause infection."
What are the infections caused by the pool?
Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Songül Özer gave the following information about the infections caused by pools:
Digestive System Infections: Digestive system infections and especially diarrhea are the most common infections transmitted from pools. Especially viruses such as rotavirus, neurovirus enterovirus, Hepatitis A virus; parasites such as Cryptosporidium, amoeba, Giardia and pinworms and bacteria such as Salmonella (Typhoid), Shigella (Dysentery), E. Coli (Tourist Diarrhea) can maintain their viability for a long time in pools that are not well cleaned and disinfected enough. Even swallowing a small amount of pool water containing these microbes can cause digestive system diseases; nausea, vomiting, high fever, abdominal pain, abdominal cramps and cramps and diarrhea.
Skin and fungal infections: They can be caused by poorly cleaned and insufficiently disinfected pools, bathrooms and toilets, and the shared use of items such as slippers, towels, etc. In addition, hot weather and excessive sweating are also factors that increase the development of skin infections in summer. Chlorine used in the disinfection of some pools, if used in excessive amounts, can cause skin irritation and then skin infections in sensitive people. The first symptoms of skin lesions are usually itching, redness, burning or stinging sensation. The most common skin infections are fungus, molluscum contagiosum, scabies and impetigo.
Genital tract infections: One of the most important reasons for the emergence of pool-acquired genital infections is chlorine in pool water. Chlorine disrupts the vaginal flora, causing the death of beneficial bacteria that form the natural structure of the vagina and the growth of other microorganisms such as fungi in the environment. Natural bacteria in the vaginal flora are the most important defense mechanism of women against infections. Contact of these organisms with dirty water, chlorine and even soap can lead to various infections. The most important symptom of pool infections is vaginal discharge. These discharges can be watery, yellow-white or green in color and smelly. Itching, stinging and tingling sensation may also occur in this area.
Urinary tract infections: Infections such as urinary tract infections and cystitis can be caused by the pool. It can manifest itself with symptoms ranging from frequent and painful urination to abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, pain in the groin and low back pain.
External ear canal infections: The increase in air temperature and humidity in summer months, prolonged stay in water or getting water in the ear disrupts the normal flora of the external auditory canal and prepares the ground for fungi, bacteria and viruses entering the ear to cause infection in this area. First itching, sensitivity to touch in the auricle, then inflammatory and foul-smelling, yellow-white discharge causes complaints. Other symptoms include ear pain, high fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and pain radiating to the jaw and throat.
Middle ear infections: Various bacteria and fungi, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can enter through the outer ear and progress towards the eardrum, causing damage to the eardrum.
Sinusitis: If you have been in a pool that has not been sufficiently cleaned or disinfected, bacteria in the water during diving can reach the sinuses through the nose and cause sinusitis. It can cause severe headache, sensitivity to touch around the nose and at the root of the nose, high fever and nausea.
Eye infections: Redness, burning, stinging sensation, pain, burrs in the eyes and swelling of the eyelids may occur due to direct irritation of the pool water or the microorganisms it contains.
Who is at risk?
All children, especially those under the age of 2, pregnant women, those who have undergone organ transplantation, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy, diabetics and kidney patients are at risk people who can easily get infected from the pool and get sick immediately.
Pay attention to these warnings to avoid pool infections!
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Songül Özer listed the measures that can be taken to protect against pool infections as follows:
- "If possible, the sea should be preferred instead of the pool.
-If you are going to the pool, pools that are as large as possible and where water circulation is high should be preferred.
-If there is a visible pollution in the pool and turbidity in the water, that pool should not be entered.
-People and pets should be prevented from entering the pool together.
-Especially children and pregnant women should take a shower before and after entering the pool.
-Sea goggles should be used when entering the pool.
-Try not to swallow pool water as much as possible. If swallowed, the possibility of infection should be reduced by consuming plenty of fluids after leaving the pool.
-Make sure that the sunbeds are clean and clean towels should be laid on them.
-Do not stay in a wet swimsuit for a long time, change it immediately with a dry one.
-Sharing items such as towels and slippers should be avoided.
-Pool-borne infections are usually treated with antibiotics. At this point, care should be taken to use antibiotics not on your own, but in consultation with a physician and with the control and permission of a physician."
