Nutritionist Warns of Summer Swimming Infection Risks
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 11 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A nutritionist has cautioned that summer swimming and water play can bring infection risks beyond drowning and sun exposure, especially for children using pools, splash areas, streams or beaches . High Min-min said contaminated water may carry bacteria, viruses and parasites, with illnesses ranging from diarrhoea and conjunctivitis to rare but severe brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri entering through the nose in freshwater .
Key Points
- High Min-min said parents often take children to pools, splash pools, streams and beaches during the summer holiday, increasing exposure to contaminated water .
- She identified gastrointestinal infections from norovirus, rotavirus and E. coli, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever after swallowing polluted water .
- Skin and mucosal infections may involve Pseudomonas and fungi, causing folliculitis, athlete’s foot or intimate discomfort when pH is abnormal or disinfectant is insufficient .
- Eye, ear, nose and throat infections can result from adenovirus or bacteria contacting mucous membranes, leading to conjunctivitis, otitis externa and nasal discomfort .
- A rare but serious risk is Naegleria fowleri in natural freshwater; forceful diving or water rushing into the nose may trigger a highly fatal brain infection .
Why It Matters
The warning highlights that summer water safety is not only about preventing drowning but also about reducing infection through water-quality checks, rinsing after swimming and seeking urgent care for fever, severe headache, persistent vomiting or altered consciousness . The advice also links public hygiene with nutrition, stressing that immune support from diet may help lower vulnerability during the peak swimming season .