This morning, while swimming at a gym I occasionally visit, the gym staff put up the yellow "do not enter" (police-like) tape and then asked me to leave the pool saying there was a problem with the chlorine. This is the second time in less than a week that the pool was closed down.
A woman in the locker room told me that the three women, who are the most frequent swimmers in the morning, have all come down with bladder infections. They all believe it is from the pool. Does anyone know if this is actually possible? Can you catch something like a bladder infection from a pool? :confused:
My mother is a nurse, and she tells me that "very highly unlikely" that you can contract a bladder infection from a chlorinated pool.
Also, from what I know from high school chemisty (only been a couple years, I'm not that rusty) Chlorine is used primarily as a water sanitizer, mostly because of its ability to kill single celled algae and bacteria by oxidation, a unique property of the chlorine which, in regulated doses, will not harm human skin or organs.
So to answer your question, I'd have to say"probably not."
:)
It is quite possible the pool went without (or with too little)chlorine for a period of time (ideal situation for breeding and spreading all manner of low-order life forms, especially if the water is warm) then, subsequently, was superchlorinated. Both conditions would warrant pool closure untill appropriate pool chemistry is re-established.
Thank you everyone for your replies. I appreciate the help.
SWinkleblech, the pool was being shut down by staff, but I was told that someone is reporting the gym to the health department, after a swimmer took a sample of the water to have it tested independently and found it had basically no cholorine (on top of the suspect bladder infections).
Thanks again.
I was a pool manager for 9 years and know that chlorine does not always kill all bacteria in the pool water quick enough. There have been cases such as ecoli being passed on in swimming pools. That is why many pools require young kids to wear swimmies and not diapers in their pools. Now I have never heard of a bladder infection being caused by swimming pools but I wouldn't totally rule it out. Was the pool being shut down by the pool managers or was it being shut down by the Health department? If it is by the Health department they should know if there is a real problem. If it is by the staff they might be unsure and just being over catious.
Originally posted by swimgirl78
Thank you everyone for your replies. I appreciate the help.
SWinkleblech, the pool was being shut down by staff, but I was told that someone is reporting the gym to the health department, after a swimmer took a sample of the water to have it tested independently and found it had basically no cholorine (on top of the suspect bladder infections).
Thanks again.
That might just do it. If you are concerned about the chlorine levels, I know in PA anyone has the right to see the records of chlorine readings. I don't know if this holds true in other states.
I could not find any published reports of bladder infections (cystitis) caused by swimming pools. There is one report of vibrio cystitis attributed to swimming in the Chesapeake Bay. Common things being common, I suspect the women at the pool in question developed cystitis the usual way (ie unrelated to swimming).
Then again, this isn't my specialty.
I don't know about bladder infections, but I have gotten ear and sinus infections from rapid changes in pool chemistry and also from swimming in open water (where there is no sanitation). Earlier this year, they drained/refilled our pool and let us swim while the water was still refilling. Like clockwork, 3 days after an ear infection started. The same thing happened just days after I returned from Cabo San Lucas, where I was in the ocean and hotel pools.
A doctor once told me that the best way to avoid these infections was to get the pool water out ASAP. I always use those hair dryers, aim right in my ears to dry them, and make sure I give my nose a good blow after getting out of the pool.
Whether or not the bladder infections of these women is connected to the pool, I think it is good that the pool staff are being proactive, and with any luck the pool will be reopened shortly.
Tim
Tim, I’m not sure if your blow dryer trick would work with bladder infections. However, for drying ears I find a few drops of rubbing alcohol also works.
