Introduction
Vaccination
Geographic
Health Hints
Index
|
SWIMMING PRECAUTIONS 
Swimming in contaminated water may result in skin, eye, ear, and certain intestinal
infections, particularly if the swimmer's head is submerged. Generally for infectious
disease prevention, only pools that contain chlorinated water can be considered safe
places to swim. In certain areas, fatal primary amebic meningoencephalitis has occurred
following swimming in warm dirty water. Swimmers should avoid beaches that might be
contaminated with human sewage, or with dog feces. Wading or swimming should be avoided in
freshwater streams, canals, and lakes liable to be infested with the snail hosts of
schistosomiasis (bilharziasis) or contaminated with urine from animals infected with
Leptospira. Biting and stinging fish and corals and jelly fish may provide a hazard to the
swimmer. Never swim alone or when under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and never dive
head first into an unfamiliar body of water.
|