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Health experts: swimming in dirty pools main cause of pneumonia in UAE

UAE: Most respiratory patients in Abu Dhabi suffering from pneumonia got the disease by swimming in warm and dirty swimming pools, says Dr. Trilok Chand, specialist in respiratory medicine at Burjeel Hospital.

He added: “Pneumonia counts for almost 50 per cent of the respiratory cases we are getting in the emergency department which require hospitalization.”

Reports from The National stated that although the hot weather made it tempting to take a dip, doctors said swimmers were also in danger of catching other illnesses such as colds, influenza, allergic conditions, asthma, sinusitis and ear infections.

“Swimming pools are hotbeds for germs that cause colds and flu. These bugs thrive in hot, humid and wet conditions and pose a risk not just to children but also adults,” Dr. Chand said. “Often water gets trapped in the ears after swimming, and if not drained, can be the perfect environment for germs. Once the infection sets in, children and adults could experience ear pain and other symptoms.”

Making sure to swim in a clean pool was a way to prevent infections, he said. He also advised children to wear earplugs while swimming and not get in the water if they had a cold.

Other risk factors that can cause pneumonia are:

  • Smoking. Cigarette smoking is the strongest risk factor for pneumonia in healthy young people.
  • Another medical condition, especially lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.
  • Impaired immune system.
  • Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
  • Recent cold or the flu.

Source: WebMD

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