August 30, 2006
Health Officials:
Swim but Don't Swallow This Holiday Weekend
State health officials Wednesday issued a warning to Montanans who plan to make water play a part of their holiday weekend: Don’t swallow water from streams, rivers, lakes, swimming pools, hot tubs, or splash parks. It can make you miserably sick.
Officials with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) said they are seeing an unusually high number of cases this year of a waterborne disease called cryptosporidiosis (KRIP-toh-spoh-rid-ee-OH-sis), or crypto. It’s caused by a microscopic parasite similar to Giardia and is characterized primarily by watery diarrhea.
“We usually see about a dozen cases of crypto a year,” said State Epidemiologist Todd Damrow. “This year we’ve already seen about 50 cases, mostly in kids.”
Crypto has become one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the nation over the past two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The parasite lives in the intestines of infected humans or animals. It’s highly contagious, and others can become infected if they have contact with soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with even tiny amounts of fecal matter from an infected animal or human.
In addition to diarrhea, symptoms can include dehydration, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms usually last about a week or two, but people who have been infected can spread the parasite for as long as two weeks after symptoms are gone.
Infants, the elderly, and people whose immune systems are compromised have a higher risk of severe illness if they become infected.
“We’ve got to get the message out that recreational water is not drinkable,” said Janet Stetzer, head of the DPHHS Food and Consumer Safety Section. “Even when pools are chlorinated properly, that doesn’t mean the water is safe to swallow. Crypto is resistant to chlorine and can survive for days in pools with adequate chlorine levels.”
Stetzer said she’s particularly concerned by the number of splash and spray park customers who seem to think that water running from the water-park features is fresh water.
“That’s just the same water that people have been playing and swimming in, and it’s being recirculated from the pool back into the water-park features,” she said. “And I’ve seen kids standing under those features with their mouths open drinking that water. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
To avoid becoming infected or infecting others, state health officials recommend that you:
- Do not swim when you have diarrhea. This is especially important for children in diapers. If you have had a crypto infection, don’t swim for at least two weeks after the symptoms are gone.
- Do not swallow water that you or others swim or play in.
- Shower before swimming. Make sure children wash thoroughly with soap and water before swimming.
- Make sure children take bathroom breaks while swimming.
- Change diapers often but not at poolside or near other recreational water.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before eating or preparing food.
If you suspect you may have cryptosporidiosis, see your health-care provider. If you have diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Page last updated: 01/30/2012
