RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Waterborne sicknesses could be discovered all yr spherical, however this summer season, well being specialists at Virginia Commonwealth College (VCU) are rising consciousness with an increasing number of individuals out within the water.
Waterborne sicknesses are illnesses which happen by the publicity to water, whether or not or not it’s consuming water or water getting into the nostril.
Dr. Melissa Jamerson, chair and affiliate professor within the Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences inside the Faculty of Well being Professions at VCU, says some waterborne sicknesses to be cautious of are Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Naegleria fowleri.
Cryptosporidium is a parasitic an infection which could be contracted whereas consuming water whereas Naegleria Fowleri happens when water goes up the nasal cavity. Giardia microorganisms could be present in heat recent water.
Dr. Jamerson says one can expertise gastrointestinal signs equivalent to vomiting and diarrhea with Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
“With Naegleria fowleri, we begin to see signs equivalent to complications, sensitivity to gentle, fever, confusion,” mentioned Dr. Jamerson.
As a result of these illnesses have signs which can be frequent with different sicknesses, Jamerson says they could be troublesome to detect and report.
In 2011, a 9-year-old boy handed away after contracting Naegleria Fowleri. Jamerson says he contracted the an infection from the James River.
“I’d say put on nostril plugs, hold your head above water,” she mentioned, “Attempt to not do actions that push water up the nasal cavity with the intention to do your finest to stop that sort of an infection.”
Jamerson provides it’s finest to make sure chlorine ranges in swimming pools are the place they need to be to stop the contraction of those sicknesses as effectively.
