In an environment like water, people can contract more than 500 diseases, although the most common are diarrhea, respiratory problems, skin rashes, and ear and eye pain.
Hot seasons like those experienced in Yucatan invite people to use swimming pools, whether at home or in recreational spaces, but measures must be taken to prevent illnesses that in some cases are the direct responsibility of the person and not of the service providers.
Whether it is a private or public pool, the most important thing is to maintain the water and to do this constantly, to prevent some diseases from spreading.
And when you are in an aquatic environment, whether it be a pool, a hot tub, a river, a lake or the sea, there are more than 500 illnesses that can be contracted, says Dr. María Elena González Álvarez, president of the College of Physicians of Yucatán.
He points out that a person can get sick when they are in the water and accidentally swallow or inhale the water, in the case of sprinklers that children now use as a game. Therefore, in swimming pools it is important to constantly maintain the water and do so at the appropriate times, since if someone enters the pool when it has just been cleaned, they may have irritating reactions due to the substances used to treat the pool. Therefore, you have to wait several hours following the treatment to get in. This can be particularly risky for sensitive people.
Dr. González Álvarez states that one of the most common illnesses that can be acquired in a swimming pool is diarrhea when contaminated water is swallowed.
He stresses that the acidity level of the water must be kept adequate to kill any microorganisms it may contain, and that chlorine and other substances used in swimming pools do provide protection, although care must be taken with children, the elderly and immunosuppressed people, who due to their age or illness are more prone to infection in the water.
He also stresses that people who are suffering from respiratory illnesses or diarrhea, especially the latter, should not go into the water, even if they wash themselves, since particles of excrement can remain and contaminate the water in the pool or the sand if they are at the beach. This can be very bad, since other people can swallow the contaminated water and become ill.
You should also avoid sitting in a bathing suit directly on the edge of the pool or on a seat, and instead place a towel on it, because the water receptacles are moist and can be breeding grounds for microorganisms.
go to the bathroom
It indicates that you should not urinate in the pool, but that you should always get out and go to the bathroom when you feel the urge, and wash your hands well before entering the water once more.
The doctor describes that another illness that can be contracted in the water is rash, due to the chemicals used in the pool and that can irritate the skin, in more sensitive people or due to other previous allergies.
Dr. María Elena González points out that when people bathe in a private pool it is easier to control what happens and ensure that they are careful, but in spas or public recreational pools it is more difficult to control, and it is not known if there are children with diarrhea who are in the water.
Eye or ear infections are common following being in the water, so it is recommended to rinse and dry thoroughly following leaving the pool.
Another common situation that affects mostly women is when you leave your bathing suit on for many hours and the triad of humidity, confinement and heat causes opportunistic fungi to proliferate. It is best to change into dry clothes.
It is also not advisable to get into the water during your period when using a sanitary pad, because you are contaminating the water, although it is possible to do so with a tampon, but only for a short while. — IRIS CEBALLOS ALVARADO
#diseases #aquatic #environments #study
2024-07-15 15:49:30
