May 23, 2013
Health officials are sounding the alarm about an illness you can get in a pool, one that chlorine can't kill.
It's called Crypto, and it's short for Cryptosporidium. The Centers for Disease Control says the number of Crypto cases tripled between 2004 and 2007.
The CDC says, "Crypto is found in infected people's stool and cannot be seen by the naked eye. This germ is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive for long periods of time and makes it resistant to chlorine disinfection found in pools."
The CDC says Crypto symptoms include stomach cramps or pain, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever and weight loss. People with weakened immune systems can develop serious, even fatal complications.
These are the six things the CDC recommends to stop the spread of Crypto and to protect your family from it:
Don't swim when you have diarrhea.
Don't swallow the pool water.
Practice good hygiene. Take a shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often.
Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside.
Wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming.
You can read more about this by clicking here.
