Swimming around in a pool is one of the best ways to spend a summer day, but not if your pool is poorly treated. There’s a lot that goes into the treatment of a pool, and it can be a lot, but it’s an important thing to do. Failing to properly maintain your pool can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria. At Patriot Pool Services, we’ve worked to maintain lots of pools for Marylanders over the decades, and wanted to talk today about just some of the health issues that can be caused by a poorly treated pool.
Cryptosporidium is Common and Causes Pneumonia and Diarrhea
Cryptosporidium (crypto) is one of the most commonly found bacteria in pools, and it’s a really nasty bacteria. Its resistance to chlorine has led to its prevalence in pools across the state of Maryland. Crypto can cause bad cases of diarrhea and pneumonia. You definitely don’t want to find crypto in your pool.
Legionella Can Cause Severe Pneumonia
Another very common bacteria found in pools is legionella. It can cause a very severe kind of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease, or it can also cause pontiac fever, which causes flu-like symptoms. Legionella is most commonly found in hot tubs, but can also be found in pools. If you have Legionella in your hot tub or pool, you definitely want to have them cleaned.
What are Some Things Swimmers Can do to Protect Themselves?
The best thing you can do to protect yourself as a swimmer is to keep your pool clean, but there are some additional things you can do to keep you and your family safe. Generally it’s a good idea to try to keep pool water out of your mouth, as this is the primary method of succumbing to any illnesses in your pool. You should also be sure to dry out your ears after you swim, as this is another way that bacteria can make you sick.
Dirty Hot Tubs Can Give You a Rash
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacteria that is found most often in hot tubs, and this bacteria can cause a condition called hot tub rash. The rash this bacteria causes is usually itchy, bumpy, red, and can sometimes be pus-filled. This is definitely something you want to avoid, and the easiest way to do this is to regularly clean your hot tub, and to have it maintained by an experienced pool cleaning company in Maryland.
Get Some Help from a Professional Pool Cleaning Company
It is so important to keep your pool clean, and it’s only something you should leave up to a professional pool cleaning company. At Patriot Pool Services, we’ve been providing pool owners in Maryland with all of our pool cleaning and maintenance services for many years. If you’re in need of having your pool cleaned, we can help! You can reach us at (410-526-SWIM) or you could contact us through our website. Our team of pool cleaning professionals is standing by ready to help you!