Ok, so I have this dust mite allergy. When it flares up, it looks pretty darn bad.
I feel kinda like a creep getting in the pool with my skin looking that way (it's usually just on the lower part of my calves, which get the most exposure to dust from carpets), but on the other hand I know it's nothing that's going to harm anyone, even if they were to play footsie with me.
Right now it's looking kinda bad, and I'm conflicted. I still practice because, well, I don't want to lose out on pool time, obviously. But I'm very self-conscious whenever I walk out onto the deck.
So what do y'all think?
Is it ok to dive on in, as long as I know I'm not putting anyone's health at risk, even though it might make other swimmers go "Ewww!"? Or am I being inconsiderate?
PS: I swim at a gym, not on a team, so I can't simply explain the situation to my poolmates.
Parents
Former Member
No need for Jimby to chime in on this one - we all know his thoughts on the subject.
The rule (sometimes written, sometimes understood) is that you shouldn't swim with open wounds, sores, and the like. It's not that you may infect other people in the pool, its that you are OPEN (OPEN WOUND) to all kinds of other nasty, gross stuff that might be lurking in the water. Cryptosporidium & Shigella are two of the most difficult diseases to kill even when water conditions are maintained at perfect levels.
Any person who enters a pool or spa will bring with them and release small quantities of fecal matter from their buttocks. Shedding of human material such as mucus, saliva & skin is a second source of illness, releasing potential non-enteric pathogenic organisms. Furthermore, bacteria can also be shed by bathers and transmitted to other bathers in the pool or spa. Other free-living aquatic amoebas can survive aquatic facility areas such as HVAC systems. Wet surfaces can also allow for the growh of these organisms. The risks are a whole spectrum of resiratory, dermal, or central nervous system infections or diseases.
Therefore, the question that begs to be asked, "Do you want to risk acquiring a more serious infection?" or "will you just give it a rest until there is sufficient scab/healing?"
No need for Jimby to chime in on this one - we all know his thoughts on the subject.
The rule (sometimes written, sometimes understood) is that you shouldn't swim with open wounds, sores, and the like. It's not that you may infect other people in the pool, its that you are OPEN (OPEN WOUND) to all kinds of other nasty, gross stuff that might be lurking in the water. Cryptosporidium & Shigella are two of the most difficult diseases to kill even when water conditions are maintained at perfect levels.
Any person who enters a pool or spa will bring with them and release small quantities of fecal matter from their buttocks. Shedding of human material such as mucus, saliva & skin is a second source of illness, releasing potential non-enteric pathogenic organisms. Furthermore, bacteria can also be shed by bathers and transmitted to other bathers in the pool or spa. Other free-living aquatic amoebas can survive aquatic facility areas such as HVAC systems. Wet surfaces can also allow for the growh of these organisms. The risks are a whole spectrum of resiratory, dermal, or central nervous system infections or diseases.
Therefore, the question that begs to be asked, "Do you want to risk acquiring a more serious infection?" or "will you just give it a rest until there is sufficient scab/healing?"
