EW! WHAT IS IN THE POOL WATER?! Tons of bacteria are living in our waterways, but you’d be so surprised to know what’s lurking inside the pool… Parasites! Learn more about how you can get diarrhea just from visiting your local public pool right here on Newsymom!
This is Public Health is brought to you in partnership with the Tuscarawas County Health Department.
It’s 95 degrees out.
YOU. ARE. ROASTING.
It’s so hot outside that the air conditioner can barely keep you and the kids cool while indoors. A trip to the local pool may be just what you need to cool off!
After slipping into your itsy-bitsy-teenie-weenie-yellow-polka-dot bikini and getting your family together, you drive on down to the local public pool where the crowd is in full swing! You play with your kids in the pool, work on your tan, and head on home after a fun day of festivities. Coolest mom ever!
THEN, TWO DAYS TO TEN DAYS LATER…
You’re sick. You’ve got any of these symptoms:
And worst of all…
-
Watery diarrhea
It’s so bad, your butt is currently GLUED to the toilet seat. You can’t risk getting up without spraying a mess everywhere.
Even worse, your kids are likely sick, too!
WHAT HAPPENED?
You’ve been exposed to a parasite called Cryptosporidium (“Crypto”, for short). Crypto (not the kind you invest in) is a parasite that’s transmitted through infected feces from animals or people…i.e. poop. You know that kid that pooped in the pool water? Oh, you didn’t hear about that? Well, this is awkward…
In fact, Crypto was the leading cause of waterborne disease in the U.S. from 2001-2010, and linked to recreational water use! (General Information for the Public, CDC) As few as ten of these Crypto germs can cause an infection and you’ll be shedding it for weeks after symptoms start.
How Did I Get Crypto?
It’s hard to say exactly since I wasn’t there with my handy-dandy microscope, but you can get Crypto from a lot of these transmission hotspots:
- Swallowing/drinking contaminated water (from public pools, lakes, rivers, etc.)
- Ingesting water, ice, or beverages that have been contaminated with waste from an infected animal or person
- Eating undercooked food
- Touching your mouth with contaminated hands
- Drinking unpasteurized/raw apple cider or milk that’s contaminated
- Exposure to an infected person’s poop
- Specific sexual activities (with oral-anal contact)
Okay, I Might Have Crypto… What do I do?
Here’s a few things you should do to help your body bounce back:
- Contact your primary care provider to see if they can have testing done on your stool! (If you don’t have a PCP, reach out to our friends at the Tuscarawas County Health Department at (330) 343-5555 x. 100 so they can help you find one!)
- Stay hydrated! Being dehydrated while having diarrhea can cause you to be hospitalized for severe dehydration. It’s important to keep your organs working at their peak! Keep up on your fluids.
- Keep a well-balanced diet. (Warning: Spicy foods may make you cry.)
- Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks such as soda, tea, coffee, etc.
There are many more ickies out there just DYING to get you sick, but the Tuscarawas County Health Department works hard so you and your family can have the BEST. SUMMER. EVER. Visit them at www.tchdnow.org to see what services they offer you and your family!
Keep following them on Facebook (@tchdnow) for the latest news and safety tips to keep your family healthy this summer.
Melissa Klatt
Reporting
