Whether you’re vacationing in a hot tropical destination or feeling the heat from the summer sun, there’s nothing quite like a refreshing dip in the pool to cool yourself down. In the heat of the moment, the only thing on your mind is finding relief from the scorching temperature, but you should also be aware that there may be something in the water, and no, it doesn’t have fins and sharp teeth.
Crypto (not to be confused with the digital currency) is short for cryptosporidiosis, a gastrointestinal infection that causes vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, dehydration, and weight loss. It is the leading cause of waterborne disease in the United States, and the most common way to contract this infection is by swallowing water when swimming in pools or untreated lakes and rivers contaminated with fecal particles. Other stomach bugs you can come in contact with in water are norovirus, E. coli, Giardia, and Shigella.
“Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can live in water, surfaces, or food that have been contaminated with microscopic fecal material carrying the organism. When ingested, this parasite can cause gastrointestinal symptoms including watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal tenderness. The illness can be diagnosed with a stool test. Nitazoxanide is a medication that can treat this illness, but in most people, no treatment is necessary and the illness will run its course and resolve on its own. However, it can be more serious if a person with a compromised immune system is infected, including people living with HIV, cancer, or on immunosuppressive medications.”
Jeffrey Martinez, MD – Infectious Disease Specialist, Trinity Medical WNY
The Pool is only as Clean as You Are
Did you know a single swimmer can bring billions of microbes into the pool with them? Chlorine is added to pool water to kill germs, but sweat, dirt, and residue from hair or body products can weaken its effectiveness. Crypto can survive in chlorinated water, and swimming in water with chlorine that’s been weakened leaves you more at risk of catching the illness.
Crypto is routinely brought into pools by infants, young children, and people experiencing diarrhea, which is why doctors suggest that if you or a child are unwell you do not enter the water for at least 2 weeks. If you have infants and children in the water, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends taking them for a restroom break and changing their swim diaper every hour to avoid contaminating the water. Children are also the age group most frequently infected with crypto.
Be Considerate of Others if You Are Sick
Crypto causes over 80% of pool illnesses, and symptoms can appear within 2 days and last up to 30. If symptoms persist for more than 7 days you should see your doctor right away. Crypto can be life-threatening to high-risk groups and vulnerable populations like people with HIV/AIDS, weakened immune systems, organ transplant recipients, and cancer patients.
There is no current vaccine available for crypto and treatment options are limited, which is why following pool rules and taking preventative measures are the best things you can do to avoid becoming sick. You can help prevent the spread of crypto by staying out of the water if you or your child are sick with diarrhea.
The next best thing is to practice proper pool hygiene, which means showering before entering the pool and when you are done swimming, exiting the pool to use the restroom and washing your hands before returning, and not swallowing the water.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Water, Be Smart in the Water
Anyone can become infected with crypto, and you can have it more than once. Crypto is not an illness you can build immunity to and can cause serious medical emergencies for some, so spreading awareness and following basic sanitary practices is crucial. It’s impossible to know how clean the water and fellow swimmers are, but that shouldn’t deter you from jumping in. As long as you are cautious and use best practices at the pool, you should be able to enjoy the water safely.
Schedule a Visit with Dr. Martinez
Dr. Jeffrey W. Martinez is a board-certified doctor who specializes in infectious diseases. Dr. Martinez sees patients at 2625 Harlem Rd in Buffalo, NY. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martinez, call (716) 862-2570.
