We don't mean to scare you off, but here's a list of 7 things you need to be careful of when swimming.
Discover our latest podcast
Cryptosporidium
The amount of reported cases of people affected by this bacterium has doubled over the last twenty years. Crypto gets into the wounds of animals and humans. You only need ten of these small bacteria to make you sick, but you can get millions of them just by going into a pool or a water park as it is resistant to chlorine. The largest epidemic of Cryptosporidium occurred in Milwaukee, USA, where nearly 400,00 people were infected by the virus.
Pseudomonas
After reading about cryptosporidium, you’ll probably be wanting to throw yourself into hot water to destroy the bacteria, and therefore may be considering a jacuzzi. Well, note that jacuzzis don’t allow chlorine to do its job and it’s really difficult to clean them. You therefore risk catching the pseudomonas that gently wedge themselves into your hair, which will cause your scalp to itch the next day. It can also even affect hearing in young children, so be careful and don’t use the jacuzzi too often!
Shigella
Shigella includes 4 different types of bacteria and is known to cause diarrhoea (500,00 cases each year in the US). The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, fever, and the uncomfortable feeling of having to go to the toilet regularly. The symptoms usually appear one of two days after swallowing the infected water. You can treat it, but we advise you to keep your mouth closed during your swimming lesson on Monday.
Legionella
Unlike the previous bacteria, Legionella is caught by air but you are again more likely to contract it by using the jacuzzi. Close to pneumonia, this bacterium more frequently affects people that are over 50-years-old, smokers and those with a reduced immune system. Be careful, the impact can be serious as legionnaires attack the airways, causing bronchial or lung problems, in addition to quite the violent fever. 90% of people affected by Legionella don’t develop legionnaires but just the Pontiac, a kind of fever that causes fatigue.
Norovirus
This virus can sometimes cause severe inflammation of the stomach and intestines. The bacterium is mostly present in fresh water and has no antidote, so you will have to suffer until your immune defences fight it off.
Cyanobacteria
This bluey-green bacterium flourishes especially in the summer and can quickly become dangerous. This virus is irritating and will make you want to itch all over, from your eyes to your anus. If you ingest part of this bacterial plant, you risk life-long damage.
Naegleria Fowleri
This bacterium is also known as ‘brain-eater,’ need we say anymore? It lives in the warm currents of cold waters and usually enters the human body through the nasal passages. It will then travel to your brain, causing inflammation that can leave you brain dead. Even rarer than a shark attack, this bacterium will almost always cause certain death.
So, how are you feeling about your holidays now?
