How to prevent pool and bathtub diseases

Hotel swimming pools and bathtubs can pose a major health risk, especially when they are not properly cleaned or when many people use them at the same time, which can result in skin or intestinal diseases such as giardiasis, cryptosporidiasis or ringworm.

Before going to the pool, for example, it is necessary to pay attention to some factors that can indicate whether the pool is proper or unsuitable for use, such as water characteristics and the presence of any stain on the tile, for example. It is also important to avoid swallowing water to avoid as many illnesses as possible.

Main diseases

1. Cryptosporidiasis

Cryptosporidiasis or cryptosporidiosis is one of the main diseases that can be acquired due to the use of poorly maintained pools or bathtubs. This disease is caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium sp ., Which can be found in the water of the swimming pool or bathtub due to poor hygiene conditions or the remains of human feces, being more common to happen in people who go to public swimming pools with poor health conditions. maintenance.

Infection with this parasite causes severe gastroenteritis, being mainly characterized by chronic and persistent diarrhea, in addition to abdominal pain, nausea, fever and weight loss.

What to do: It is recommended to go to the infectologist or general practitioner for diagnosis and treatment. In addition, it is recommended to rest and improve hygiene conditions.

2. Otitis externa

Otitis externa is characterized by inflammation of the ears that can be caused by bacteria, which can easily proliferate in the ear due to the humid and hot environment. Thus, the external otitis caused is more common in people who stay in the pool for a long time.

The main symptoms of otitis externa are ear pain, itching in the ear and ear, redness and swelling of the region. Learn more about otitis externa.

What to do: It is important to go to the otorhinolaryngologist when the first symptoms of otitis appear so that you can be treated with antibiotics, which should be used according to the medical recommendation.

3. Giardiasis

Giardiasis is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia , which can be found in water, especially in places where sanitation is precarious or non-existent, and enters the person's body through ingestion of contaminated water. Infection with this parasite is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, cramps and abdominal swelling. Know other symptoms of giardiasis.

What to do: If Giardia lamblia infection is suspected, it is important to go to the general practitioner or infectologist to make the diagnosis and start treatment, which is usually done with the use of Metronidazole. See what are the main remedies for each type of worm.

4. Inguinal candidiasis

Inguinal candidiasis or candidiasis in the groin corresponds to the proliferation of fungi of the species Candida sp in the groin, resulting in itching and redness of the region. This type of fungus can easily proliferate in humid environments, being common to be acquired in poorly sanitized pools or bathtubs.

What to do: In these cases, it is important to consult a dermatologist so that diagnostic tests can be carried out and treatment can be started.

5. Mycoses

Mycoses are diseases caused by fungi that, in order to proliferate, need a humid and warm environment, the pool and bathtub being great places for their proliferation. The main symptoms of ringworm are itchy skin and the presence of scaly lesions that can appear on the face, arms, groins and scalp, for example. Learn more about mycoses.

What to do: When characteristic signs of fungal infection are noticed, it is important to go to the dermatologist to make the diagnosis and start treatment, which is usually done with the use of antifungal drugs in the form of ointment or cream, for example.

6. Legionellosis

Legionellosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophilia , which develops in environments with water, which are humid and not very clean. Thus, the water and the edges of the pool and the bathtubs provide a great place for the proliferation of this bacterium, which can enter the body through the ingestion of contaminated water, for example. Find out how Legionella contamination occurs.

Legionella pneumophilia infection can be noticed through some symptoms, such as coughing, chest pain, high fever, vomiting and diarrhea. See how to identify legionellosis.

What to do: It is important that right at the first symptoms of the infection, the person is referred to the hospital for tests to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment for this disease is done in a hospital environment and with the use of antibiotics, such as Ciprofloxacino and Azithromycin, for example. Find out how legionellosis is treated.

7. Chemical irritation

Products that are used to clean the bathtub or the pool or purify the water, can cause irritation to the skin and mucosa of people, which results in itching, burning in the eyes or in the genital regions and redness in the skin.

What to do: As soon as the first signs of skin irritation appear, you need to get out of the pool or bathtub and bathe under running water. If the symptoms do not disappear, it is recommended to take an antiallergic and go to the allergist if the symptoms are frequent and constant.

How to avoid

To avoid diseases that can be contracted in the hotel pool or hot tub, it is important to pay attention to the general state of the environment:

• Check if the water is clear, being possible to see the bottom of the pool, for example; Check if the tiles are clean, without any sign of darker stain. In addition, the tiles of the pool must not be slippery or sticky; Check if the water filter motor is working, in the case of swimming pools; Check if there is any stain in the bathtub.

It is also important to avoid swallowing any amount of water and not to go to the pool if you are ill. In addition, in the case of swimming pools, the more people attending at the same time, the greater the risk of disease, so, if possible, avoid frequenting swimming pools that are too full or that apparently do not have adequate maintenance.