Water lovers beware: your local wading pool could be teeming with diarrhea-causing germs. New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention details how these recreational water sources have caused many gastrointestinal illnesses since their arrival.
CDC scientists reviewed surveillance data on waterborne outbreaks dating back to the mid-1990s, when splash zones became popular in the United States. They have documented dozens of outbreaks associated with splash zones since 1997, many of which resulted in people being sent to the hospital. The results are the first to quantify the extent of damage related to splash zones.
Paddling pools, also called splash pads or interactive fountains, provide a safer way for people to enjoy the water, especially young children. Water jets are usually placed on a flat surface where no water is collected, eliminating any risk of drowning. But they are not without risk, as this new report illustrates.
State and local health departments have regularly reported outbreaks of waterborne illnesses linked to wading pools over the years, some of which sometimes makes the news. But the CDC report is apparently the first to summarize the toll of these epidemics.
In total, the CDC has identified at least 60 outbreaks linked to splash zones recorded between 1997 and 2022 in 23 states and Puerto Rico. More than 10,000 people fell ill during these outbreaks, while 152 were hospitalized. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported. The conclusions were published Thursday in the CDC's weekly morbidity and mortality report.
Like other recreational water sources, wading pools are supposed to use chlorine-treated water. But there are some waterborne insects that are naturally resistant to chlorine, namely the parasite Cryptosporidium. And it is this parasite that is responsible for most of the illnesses observed with splash guards. Two-thirds of outbreaks (40) and 90% of total cases were associated with Cryptosporidiumthe CDC found. Wading pools are also less regulated than other recreational water sources, at least in some states, which could lead to a higher risk of poorly treated wading pools in general.
Another important factor in these outbreaks is human behavior. Children under five are most likely to play in water play, and they are also least likely to master cleanliness and hygiene skills, as the CDC says. In other words, it's their infected feces that usually end up contaminating the local splash zone, and so-called “swim diapers” offer no protection against this. Children may also not understand the need to avoid water if they have recently had diarrhea, which is a common warning at recreational water facilities (that said, many unhygienic adults also ignore this advice).
Although kids will be kids, the CDC authors say more work needs to be done to mitigate these outbreaks. Their recommendations include expanding regulations regarding splash zones, adding secondary decontamination lines, such as ultraviolet light treatment, to further reduce the risk of Cryptosporidiumand advise parents to discourage behaviors in their children that increase the risk of contamination, such as children standing or sitting on top of an airplane. Um, on that last point, good luck.
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