Healthy Swimming
July and August are prime time for recreational swimming. With many parts of the country and world experiencing warm temperatures right now, folks of all ages will be jumping in rivers, lakes, swimming pools and spas. While water safety is paramount, awareness of water borne illnesses is also important. Dr. Bonnie M. Word, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, wrote an excellent article titled, “Water Woes: Recognizing and Treating Recreational Water Illness”, which I encourage all of my patients to read. It summarizes some of the more common infectious agents that can be present in water and which can cause illness in swimmers. For more information, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has some helpful information about Healthy Swimming. Happy Summer!
