Don't let pool fun turn into illness: Beware of infection risk in summer

In her statement, Dr. Zeynep Güngördü Dalar, a faculty member at the Department of Medical Microbiology, made evaluations regarding the microbiological health risks of swimming in the pool during the summer months. Emphasizing that pool waters can contain many infectious agents in the event of inadequate chlorination and non-compliance with hygiene rules, Dr. Dalar said, "Especially some microorganisms resistant to chlorine can survive for a long time. For this reason, pools can cause the spread of many diseases such as diarrhea, hand-foot-mouth disease, skin, eye and ear infections."

The most common pool-borne diseases

In her statement regarding the main infections that can be transmitted from pools, Dr. Zeynep Güngördü Dalar said, "Especially in children, gastrointestinal infections with symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain may occur as a result of swallowing pool water. Hand, foot and mouth disease transmitted by pool water contaminated with viruses can lead to epidemics in the summer months. In pools with insufficient chlorine levels, Pseudomonas bacteria and fungal infections can cause skin redness, itching and acne-like rashes. Eye and ear infections such as conjunctivitis and otitis externa may be seen as a result of contact with dirty pool water. Although rare, Legionella bacteria spread from pools can lead to Legionnaires' disease, a serious respiratory infection. In addition, even if pool water is not a direct causative agent, staying in a wet swimsuit for a long time is a factor that increases the risk of urinary tract infection, especially in women." Dr. Zeynep Güngördü Dalar said that bacteria such as E. coli, Pseudomonas, Legionella in pool water; He stated that viruses such as adenovirus and enterovirus; parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia and fungi can be found, and that these microorganisms can cause diarrhea, skin irritation, eye inflammation and respiratory tract infections. Personal precautions are of great importance

Drawing attention to the importance of individual hygiene rules in order to prevent diseases originating from pools, Dr. Zeynep Güngördü Dalar said, "You should definitely take a shower before entering the pool; sweat, cosmetic residues and microorganisms on the body should be prevented from mixing with the water. Individuals with open wounds, diarrhea or skin infections should not enter the pool, because this puts both their own health and other users at risk. It is very important for small children to be taken to the pool with swimming diapers; entering the pool with diapers can cause serious problems in terms of hygiene. In addition, after leaving the pool, you should not stay in a wet swimsuit for a long time, and dry clothes should be worn to prevent fungal and urinary tract infections, which are especially common in women."

Stating that not only the water but also the cleanliness of the surrounding areas is of great importance in pool hygiene, Dr. Dalar said, "Shower areas, toilets, pool edges and wet floors are places where microorganisms can easily reproduce. These areas need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly."

What to watch out for

Dr. Zeynep Güngördü Dalar stated that citizens cannot always understand whether a pool is hygienic with the naked eye, but they can get a general idea by paying attention to some clues, and said, "The pool water should be clear and the bottom should be clearly visible; cloudy or greenish water may be a sign of insufficient chlorination. The areas around the pool should be clean, tidy and dry; slippery or mossy floors indicate lack of hygiene. An excessive and disturbing chemical smell coming from the pool can sometimes be an indicator of incorrect chlorination practices. It is important for those entering the pool to have warning signs and to observe that these rules are followed. In addition, the fact that the water analysis reports showing the maintenance status and safety of the pool are hung in a visible area shows that the facility works transparently and regularly in terms of hygiene."

At the end of her statement, Dr. Zeynep Güngördü Dalar warned, "Pools are safe environments when disinfected correctly. However, even the safest pool can turn into a health risk if personal hygiene rules are not followed."

DHA

Reporter: News Center