So how come there aren't a LOT of sick people?

[CToon]

http://www.ppoa.org/pdfs/PrP_Cyanuri...0or%20Bomb.pdf

it makes for an informative read . And even if I never read anything about CYA, I know whats working in MY pool. Before I found this site , I couldnt figure out why my pool was such a pita. When I learnt to deal with the high cya , the pool looks great , less work and more fun. dont need to prove anything else to me

[aquarium]

http://www.ppoa.org/pdfs/PrP_Cyanuri...0or%20Bomb.pdf

it makes for an informative read . And even if I never read anything about CYA, I know whats working in MY pool. Before I found this site , I couldnt figure out why my pool was such a pita. When I learnt to deal with the high cya , the pool looks great , less work and more fun. dont need to prove anything else to me

Great article, thanks!

I use the liquid bleach regimin too after visiting this site, and I also have great results. Just trying to understand a bit more of the why.

TW

[medvampire]

I work in a hospital laboratory and see peps that are sick from pools. The reason you don’t hear about it is because the environmental source of infections are hard to identify. I would venture most middle and outer ear, eye infections, and wound infections in families with pools are pool related. I have seen skin infections caused by Pseudomonas from pools. I have seen respiratory infections form pools and spas. I read an article a few days ago about pathogenic E.Coli transmitted by pool water. Its there you just don’t hear of it very much. I feel that if you are seeing algae you have a higher risk from pathogens in the pool as well. If our immune systems are functioning well we can fight off mild attacks but in the young and elderly populations are at higher risk.
Steve

[DavidD]

The reason you don’t hear about it is because the environmental source of infections are hard to identify. I would venture most middle and outer ear, eye infections, and wound infections in families with pools are pool related....

Makes sense. Though I'm no doctor or even in the medical field, that is essentially what I've always suspected.

Dave

[bradjo]

Since folks are stating their credentials fwiw (for what it's worth), I'm an RN BSN (LLU), with a PHN certificate. I worked as an RN for over 20 years, received a graduate degree in engineering and moved along.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control), started tracking WBDO (Waterborne Disease Outbreaks) associated with RW (Recreational Water) in 1978 so that's as far back as their statistics go. The latest surveillance summary I've seen is dated 2002. You can read it here:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5308a1.htm

Next CDC only tracks clusters and reporting is voluntary the above is an interesting read and gives you a window into RWI (Recreational Water Illness). Since this leaves out the large population of RW, private swimming pools and individuals owners/swimmers you can surmise that this is simply the tip of the iceberg.

While I wouldn't go quite as far as MedVampire does

I would venture most middle and outer ear, eye infections, and wound infections in families with pools are pool related.

I'd say he's pretty close. The only reason I don't completely agree is the large groups of pink eye (infectious conjuctivitis), uri's, impetigo, scabies, tineas, pediculosis and diarrheal illnesses amongst the pre and elementary school population.

It's very important to remember drowning is also an RWI and probably the easiest preventable one.
Jo

[medvampire]

Jo
I do agree with you most of these illnesses are common in close order groups for example school and day care settings I was referring to environmental sources or infections of unknown origin. I should have been more specific about the source and epidemiology of the infection but I trying to keep as general as possible.
I do agree that drowning is the greatest cause if disability and death from pools and the most preventable one.
Steve

[waterbear]

The dangers of DHMO once again!