One in three waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States between 2000 and 2014 occurred in hotel pools and hot tubs, according to recent findings published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found more than half the outbreaks started in the summer months, during which people are more likely to take a trip to their local pool. With summer around the corner, it is important to maintain a high level of pool hygiene and to avoid swimming, hot tubs, and waterparks if unwell.
A total of 493 outbreaks were reported during this period, causing more than 27,000 illnesses and eight deaths. The most common were outbreaks of the parasitic infection cryptosporidium, and the bacterial infections pseudomonas, and legionella. Cryptosporidium, also known as Crypto, was the most common cause of infection, accounting for 58 percent of outbreaks and nine out of ten cases of illness where a germ was linked to pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds.
“Swallowing just a mouthful of water with Crypto in it can make otherwise healthy kids and adults sick for weeks with watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting,” Michele Hlavsa, RN, MPH, chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program, explained. Other common symptoms of a cryptosporidium infection include lack of appetite, dehydration, fever, and weight loss.
Chlorine is not effective enough to kill Crypto quickly, so it is vital that those who are unwell, particularly if they have diarrhea, do not go in the water in the first place, Hlavsa warned. A cryptosporidium infection may be diagnosed with an acid-staining test and physicians may also order a stool culture to rule out other bacterial infections.
Most people recover from a cryptosporidium infection within a couple of weeks but the condition may be dangerous for those with a compromised immune system. In serious cases, treatment may include antiparasitic medications, such as Alinia (nitazoxanide) or Zithromax (azithromycin). Other options include remedies to relieve diarrhea, such as Imodium A-D, and products to replace fluids, minerals, and electrolytes in the body.
CDC recommendations for avoiding cryptosporidiosis, the condition caused by cryptosporidium infection, include washing hands with soap and water before eating and after going to the bathroom. It also advises people to wash their hands properly after changing diapers and after touching an object or surface that may have come into contact with feces. Untreated water found in lakes, wells, or rivers should not be consumed and the CDC also recommended avoiding swallowing any water when in a swimming pool or hot tub.
