It's bad to swim after having diarrhea primarily because you can spread germs that make other people sick.
The Germ Factor: Why Diarrhea Matters in the Pool
When you have diarrhea, your stool contains a high concentration of germs, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These germs can easily contaminate pool water, even if you don't realize you're leaking stool. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically advises against swimming while you have diarrhea, or have recently recovered, due to this risk.
Here's a breakdown:
- Millions of Germs: Diarrhea can contain millions of germs per gram of stool.
- Water Contamination: Even a small amount of contaminated stool can release these germs into the water.
- Chlorine Ineffectiveness: While chlorine is used to disinfect pool water, it doesn't kill all germs instantly. Some, like Cryptosporidium (Crypto), are very resistant to chlorine and can survive for extended periods.
- Swallowing Water: Swimmers inevitably swallow some water, increasing the risk of ingesting these harmful germs.
Potential Health Risks for Other Swimmers
By swimming while you have diarrhea, you expose other swimmers to these germs, leading to potential infections and illnesses. Some common illnesses spread through contaminated pool water include:
- Gastrointestinal Illnesses: Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella, and E. coli can cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever. Crypto is particularly concerning because it's highly resistant to chlorine.
- Respiratory Infections: Adenoviruses can cause respiratory illnesses, such as colds and bronchitis.
- Skin Infections: Bacteria and fungi can cause skin rashes and infections.
- Ear Infections: Contaminated water can lead to ear infections, especially in children.
How Long to Wait After Diarrhea
The CDC recommends waiting at least 2 weeks after diarrhea stops before swimming. This ensures that you are no longer shedding the harmful germs that caused your illness.
Prevention is Key
Following these guidelines helps protect yourself and others:
- Stay Out of the Water: If you have diarrhea, stay out of swimming pools, hot tubs, and other recreational water venues.
- Practice Good Hygiene: Shower before swimming, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet or changing diapers, and avoid swallowing pool water.
- Take Frequent Bathroom Breaks: Encourage children to take frequent bathroom breaks to avoid accidents in the pool.
- Change Diapers Regularly: Change diapers frequently and away from the pool area. Dispose of diapers properly in a designated diaper disposal container.
- If recently diagnosed with Cryptosporidium, wait 2 weeks after diarrhea stops to prevent further spread of this extremely resistant germ.
