GALVESTON, Texas - They are collectively known as RWIs, or recreational water illnesses. With names like shigella, salmonella, vibrio, hepatitis A, and cryptosporidium, they can quickly spoil a vacation. And many a soak in a hot tub has been ruined by the hot tub villain pseudomonas.
Some of the infections that RWIs cause can be avoided and, while they are not usually life threatening, they can make physical existence miserable for three to five days. In addition, there is a threat of dehydration, especially in children. Because some of these infections are treated with antibiotics, it's advisable to see a physician when symptoms appear.
"These water-borne bacteria, parasites and viral pathogens lurk nearby in swimming pools, hot tubs and the salty warm waves of the Texas Gulf Coast where recreational water infections are most often transmitted," said Dr. Janak A. Patel, director of pediatric infectious diseases and immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
"If you or your child have been in the water and you begin to have abdominal discomfort, diarrhea and vomiting with or without fever, the culprit is most likely one of these," he said.
"If there's also a rash, it may also be an infection called pseudomonas, the most common infection contracted in hot tubs," he said.
RWIs can't always be avoided but parents can limit the risk by taking a closer look at the water before allowing their children to enter.
"If there is fecal material in the water, slime on the pool edges, a lack of chlorination, an absence of poolside bathrooms or a lack of employees supervising the swimming area, you might want to reconsider," he said.
The most common illness spread in swimming pools is diarrhea, according to the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"If swimmers are ill with diarrhea, the germs that they carry can contaminate the water if they have an "accident" in the pool. Swimming when ill with diarrhea can easily contaminate large pools or water parks."
Also, people should be aware that not all decorative or interactive fountains are chlorinated and they should keep a special eye on diaper-aged children playing in the water.
Patel notes that lakes, rivers and other natural bodies of water may contain germs from sewage or animal waste. Swimmers should avoid these areas after a rainfall or if health officials have declared it unsafe, he said.