Most people swim in lakes and reservoirs every year, while contracting a serious disease after doing so is very rare.
However, the word "rarely" is not synonymous with the word "never," which means it's high time to learn which infectious diseases to be wary of.
The most common disease is giardiasis, which is caused by the simplest microorganisms – lamblia.
They enter the water from feces, initially do not manifest themselves in the body in any way, and the first signs appear only after 1-2 weeks.
The symptoms are easily confused with food poisoning – diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.
Fortunately, the treatment of the disease is not particularly difficult. The main thing is to see a doctor in time to avoid dehydration.
The next pathogen that deserves attention is Cryptosporidium, also known as the rotavirus genus.
They, like lamblia, enter the body with contaminated water. The symptoms of infection are the same: diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain, so if they are detected, you should visit a doctor.
But an infection caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira is not so obvious. How to recognize it? The infected person's temperature quickly rises, and after a few days the liver enlarges, accompanied by a decrease in the volume of urine excreted. To avoid a fatal outcome, treatment must be prescribed by a specialist.
Waterfowl can also carry parasites, such as schistosomes. These penetrate the skin and cause itching and inflammation. But that's not all: the parasites can travel through the bloodstream and lay eggs in human veins.
Schistosomiasis is treatable if you see a doctor in time, so if an unusual rash appears on your body after swimming, you should immediately consult a therapist.
