Swimming In Lake Research Articles

Self-reported benefits and risks of open water swimming to health, wellbeing and the environment: Cross-sectional evidence from a survey of Scottish swimmers.

Engaging with natural environments benefits human health by providing opportunities for social interactions, enhancing mental wellbeing and enabling outdoor spaces for physical exercise. Open water swimming has seen a rapid increase in popularity, partly due to the physical health benefits it can provide but also with the growing interest in (re)connecting with nature for environment-health interactions. Using a national-scale online survey of 717 open water swimmers, the aim of this study was to investigate patterns and trends in the perceived benefits and risks of open water swimming to both public health and the environment; and to understand whether these perceived risks and benefits vary across different typologies of swimmers and open water, or 'blue space', environments. Strong associations were found between the most important self-reported benefit associated with open water swimming and both participant age and the categorisation of their typical swim style. All but one of the age-groups surveyed perceived mental wellbeing benefits to be the most important benefit of open water swimming; whilst those aged over 65 identified physical rather than mental wellbeing benefits to be the most important outcome. Participants who preferred lake swimming reported greater concern regarding possible environmental damage caused by the increasing popularity of open water swimming compared to those engaging in river or sea swimming. However, the majority of participants perceived the risks to the environment from open water swimming to be minimal. Our study adds to the growing evidence that open water swimming is perceived by participants as benefitting their mental and physical wellbeing. Improved understanding of the benefits and risks of engaging with blue spaces used for open water swimming can contribute to co-designed policy development to promote safer, healthier and more sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities associated with this increasingly popular outdoor pursuit.

Perceived Impact of Outdoor Swimming on Health: Web-Based Survey.

BackgroundOutdoor swimming in lakes, lidos (outdoor pools), rivers, and the sea has grown in popularity in many countries, including the United Kingdom. Many anecdotal accounts indicate improvements in medical conditions, which are considered a consequence of outdoor swimming.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to better understand outdoor swimmers’ perceptions of their health and the extent to which participation impacted their existing self-reported symptoms.MethodsA survey was conducted to investigate outdoor swimming behaviors and reports of any diagnosed medical conditions. Medical conditions were coded into categories, and descriptive statistics were generated regarding the outdoor swimmers’ behaviors and the effect that outdoor swimming had on their medical symptoms if any. The medical categories were clustered into five larger categories based on their prevalence in the current sample: mental health; musculoskeletal and injury; neurological; cardiovascular and blood disease; and other, which comprises inflammatory, immune, endocrine, and respiratory conditions.ResultsIn total, 722 outdoor swimmers responded, of whom 498 (68.9%) were female. The probability of outdoor swimming having some positive impact on health across all medical categories was 3.57 times higher compared with no impact (B=1.28, 95% CI 0.63-1.91; P<.001), 44.32 times higher for the mental health category (B=3.79, 95% CI 2.28-5.30; P<.001), 5.25 times higher for musculoskeletal and injury category (B=1.66, 95% CI 0.52-2.79; P=.004), and 4.02 times higher for the other category (B=1.39, 95% CI 0.27-2.51; P=.02). Overall, outdoor swimming was associated with perceived reductions in symptoms of poor mental health (χ22=25.1; P<.001), musculoskeletal and injury (χ22=8.2; P=.04), cardiovascular and blood (χ22=14.7; P=.006), and other conditions (χ22=18.2; P<.001).ConclusionsPhysical activity in the form of outdoor swimming is perceived to have positive impacts on health and is associated with perceived symptom reductions in mental health, musculoskeletal and injury, and cardiovascular and blood conditions. This study cannot provide causal relationships or provide mechanistic insights. However, it does provide a starting point for more targeted prospective intervention research into individual conditions or categories of conditions to establish the impact in those who choose to start outdoor swimming.

S3495 A Case of Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis in Disguise as a Parasitic Infection

Introduction: Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a rare inflammatory disorder that can involve any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract affecting around 22 per 100000 people. It classically presents with GI symptoms and peripheral eosinophilia. Our case highlights a clinical overlap between eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) and parasitic infection. Case Description/Methods: A 41-year-old man presented with 2 weeks of watery diarrhea and emesis, after a 2-month trip to Latin America. His symptoms started a few days before his return. He reported 10-14 episodes of watery, non-bloody diarrhea daily with intermittent epigastric pain, night sweats, anorexia, nausea, and weight loss. He was given amoxicillin by a relative without avail in addition to taking penicillin two days before presentation for a tooth infection. On his trip, he occasionally drank tap water, had raw vegetables and raw milk but denied having raw meat or fish. He also reported walking barefooted in jungle areas and swimming in lakes, but denied any foot/skin trauma. His medical history is non-contributory. On exam, blood pressure was 99/62 mmHg, with an otherwise normal full exam. Labs showed normal hemoglobin, WBC of 11.4k/ml with eosinophilia, and a Creatinine of 1.35 mg/dl. Abdominal CT with contrast showed colitis of the ascending and proximal transverse colon. He was empirically given ivermectin for Strongyloides with no improvement. Further infectious workup was negative. Endoscopy findings suggested eosinophilic esophagitis, gastritis, erythematous duodenopathy, and an erythematous mucosa in the terminal ileum (Figure 1). Pathology showed active esophagitis, inflammation in the gastric antrum, duodenum, terminal ileum, colon, and markedly increased eosinophils and plasma cells in all locations. He was discharged on albendazole but with no response. He was readmitted and started on a 10-day prednisone 40mg course with improvement leading to discharge. Discussion: The presentation of GI symptoms and peripheral eosinophilia carries a broad list of differential diagnoses including parasitic infections, inflammatory bowel disease, hyper-eosinophilic syndrome, malignancy, and eosinophilic gastroenteritis. This can be challenging at times as it can represent an overlap between multiple etiologies. We decided to treat empirically for Strongyloides given the suspicious travel history and the risk of hyperinfection syndrome, but the lack of response led to a more confident diagnosis of EGE as evident by response to corticosteroids.

Waterproof cast liners for pediatric forearm fractures – A comparison of two products

Introduction Waterproof lining in casting in the pediatric population is becoming more commonplace due to the improved quality of life for the child by providing patients with a higher physical functional level when compared to those with non-waterproof lining. The objective of this study is to compare patient satisfaction and outcomes of two commonly used waterproof liners. Methods A prospective, randomized-controlled trial of children with stable forearm fractures not requiring reduction was conducted. Of those who chose a waterproof lining, patients were randomized to one of two products: Delta Dry® or Aquacast®. At the time of cast removal, each patient and medical assistant who applied and removed the cast completed surveys about their satisfaction with the cast. A two-sample T-test for independent samples was used to compare the two cast liners. Results Both liners were well liked by patients with no statistically significant difference in satisfaction scores nor were there differences in water exposure between the two groups (pool use, showering, or lake swimming). The medical assistants scored Aquacast® higher in three out of four domains but again there was no statistical difference. There were no fracture complications nor problems from cast application or removal. Conclusion Both waterproof cast liners were safe and efficacious. No significant differences were detected in any measured parameter including overall high patient satisfaction.

The Total Economic Value of Sport Tourism in Belt and Road Development—An Environmental Perspective

The development of the belt and road region leads cities to significantly increase the amount of public expenditure on the new construction of facilities and infrastructure. Mass construction not only relies on many environmental resources, but might also destroy the local natural environment. In order to reveal the importance of the natural environment, this study explores the economic value of the natural landscape for sport tourism in Taiwan. While the concept of total economic value (TEV) is applied to the Sun–Moon Lake Swimming Carnival Event, the travel cost method (TCM) is adopted to estimate the use value for participants, and the double-bounded dichotomous contingent valuation method (CVM) and survival analysis are performed to evaluate the non-use value for the residents. The use value is on average NT$ 5668 for one participant. The median willingness to pay for the option value, existence value and bequest value of every resident is NT$433, NT$411 and NT$274, respectively.

A CASE REPORT ON ISOLATED HEMATURIA WITH ANEMIA DUE TO SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM

An unsual case in India was reported with an Isolated Hematuria with Anemia due to Schistosoma Haematobium. A male North African patient aged with 22 years admitted in hospital in Hyderabad with chief complaints of hematuria with dysuria, fever with night sweats and shortness of breath during exercise. His skin appears as pale. His history known that he came to India for his academics. He has a habit of swimming in lake at his country. He has no known past medical history and medication history. His blood reports were found to be low hemoglobin levels and low RBC count. His urine analysis results with reddish colored erythrocytes and crystals with an absence of proteins and casts. Microscopic examination of urine detects Schistosoma Haematobium eggs by using repeated concentration techniques.

Service quality improving effects and recreational benefits for sports tourism—A case study

Service quality is one of many crucial items for sport event participants. Using Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival Event as an example, this study measures the perception of service quality for various participant groups and their associated recreational benefits from the demand model. Three service quality clusters, interaction and information, physical facility improving, and program and outcome, were extracted. Later, the contingent behavior method was used to measure the hypothetical benefits from service quality improvements. This study’s findings discover that the amenity of Sun Moon Lake and its surroundings at current status is not sufficient to make participants come back. Findings show that an improvement in the service quality of sports program and the outcome will result in an NT$85.78 million consumer surplus gain, with the facility improvement producing a gain of NT$72.90 million arising simply from the event in each year. Therefore, recreation managers may find it justifiable to improve an event’s service quality in this regard.

Comparative studies of immunochromatographic strips and microscopy in the diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis in selected children in Zaria, Nigeria

Schistosomiasis remains endemic in many developing countries due to poor hygiene and access to potable water sources. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in selected children. A total of 100 urine samples were collected randomly from the selected population and screened using the CCA rapid immunochromatographic test strips and microscopy for the ova of the Schistosoma haematobium . It was observed at the end that out of the 100 samples examined, the prevalence was found to be 8(8%) for microscopy and 14(14%) for immunochromatographic test strips. The observation shows similar prevalence of S. haematobium infection in children; with the highest prevalence occurrences in male children. The age group 9-11 years had the highest prevalence rate of 23.8% and 38.1% for microscopy and immunochromatographic test strips respectively and males were more infected than females. Of 48 male subjects examined, 5(10.4%) were positive for microscopy while 10(20.8%) were positive for strips. Of 52 females, 3(5.8%) were positive for microscopy while 4(7.7%) were positive for strips. For 70%, their source of water for domestic purpose was bore hole, 20% was from the well, 4% from river/stream and 6% were from other sources. A total of 10% did swim regularly in nearby water bodies and 6% of the children go fishing.The risk factors associated with S. haematobium in this survey were drinking water from lakes, swimming in lakes or ponds and presence of snails ( Bolinus ) in such lakes. Sanitary control measures should be put in place in the areas so as to prevent people from defecating in the open.

Pathogen Loading From Canada Geese Faeces in Freshwater: Potential Risks to Human Health Through Recreational Water Exposure.

Canada geese (Branta canadensis) faeces have been shown to contain pathogenic protozoa and bacteria in numerous studies over the past 15years. Further, increases in both the Canada geese populations and their ideal habitat requirements in the United States (US) translate to a greater presence of these human pathogens in public areas, such as recreational freshwater beaches. Combining these factors, the potential health risk posed by Canada geese faeces at freshwater beaches presents an emerging public health issue that warrants further study. Here, literature concerning human pathogens in Canada geese faeces is reviewed and the potential impacts these pathogens may have on human health are discussed. Pathogens of potential concern include Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Helicobacter canadensis, Arcobacter spp., Enterohemorragic Escherichia coli pathogenic strains, Chlamydia psitacci, Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia. Scenarios presenting potential exposure to pathogens eluted from faeces include bathers swimming in lakes, children playing with wet and dry sand impacted by geese droppings and other common recreational activities associated with public beaches. Recent recreational water-associated disease outbreaks in the US support the plausibility for some of these pathogens, including Cryptosporidium spp. and C.jejuni, to cause human illness in this setting. In view of these findings and the uncertainties associated with the real health risk posed by Canada geese faecal pathogens to users of freshwater lakes, it is recommended that beach managers use microbial source tracking and conduct a quantitative microbial risk assessment to analyse the local impact of Canada geese on microbial water quality during their decision-making process in beach and watershed management.

Norovirus Outbreak Associated With a Natural Lake Used for Recreation—Oregon, 2014

Norovirus Outbreak Associated With a Natural Lake Used for Recreation—Oregon, 2014

Swimming in the USA: beachgoer characteristics and health outcomes at US marine and freshwater beaches

Swimming in lakes and oceans is popular, but little is known about the demographic characteristics, behaviors, and health risks of beachgoers on a national level. Data from a prospective cohort study of beachgoers at multiple marine and freshwater beaches in the USA were used to describe beachgoer characteristics and health outcomes for swimmers and non-swimmers. This analysis included 54,250 participants. Most (73.2%) entered the water; of those, 65.1% put their head under water, 41.3% got water in their mouth and 18.5% swallowed water. Overall, 16.3% of beachgoers reported any new health problem. Among swimmers, 6.6% reported gastrointestinal (GI) illness compared with 5.5% of non-swimmers (unadjusted χ² p < 0.001); 6.0% of swimmers and 4.9% of non-swimmers reported respiratory illness (p < 0.001); 1.8% of swimmers and 1.0% of non-swimmers reported ear problems (p < 0.001); and 3.9% of swimmers and 2.4% of non-swimmers experienced a rash (p < 0.001). Overall, swimmers reported a higher unadjusted incidence of GI illness and earaches than non-swimmers. Current surveillance systems might not detect individual cases and outbreaks of illness associated with swimming in natural water. Better knowledge of beachgoer characteristics, activities, and health risks associated with swimming in natural water can improve disease surveillance and prioritize limited resources.

Should water precautions be recommended for children with tympanostomy tubes?

Should water precautions be recommended for children with tympanostomy tubes?

A Long Shot? Could neurodegenerative disease be caused by a cyanobacterial toxin?

A Long Shot? Could neurodegenerative disease be caused by a cyanobacterial toxin?

22-Year-Old Woman With Fever and Jaundice After Travel to Ghana

A 22-year-old woman with no past medical problems was admitted with extreme fatigue, headache, fever, decreased appetite, and jaundice 2 days after returning from a 3-month mission trip to Ghana. She reported many insect bites in Africa and may have been bitten by a spider before becoming ill. She had sought no pretravel counseling before venturing to Ghana and was prescribed chloroquine for malaria prophylaxis when she arrived in Ghana. One month after being in Africa, she had intermittent fever, headache, and fatigue. Findings on evaluation in Ghana for malaria and typhoid were unremarkable. The patient was taking no other medications and had no relevant family history. She denied blood transfusions, injections, sexual exposures, animal exposure, alcohol use, illicit drug use, or contact with ill persons in Ghana. She drank bottled water and ate cooked food and freshly peeled fruit. In addition, she denied swimming in lakes or rivers while there. On admission, the patient appeared ill. She was normotensive (blood pressure, 114/69 mm Hg), tachycardic (heart rate, 125 beats/min), afebrile (temperature, 37.2ΥC), and tachypneic (respiratory rate, 20 breaths/min) with an oxygen saturation of 96%. She was noticeably jaundiced and somnolent. Hepatosplenomegaly was present on examination. Skin examination revealed two 1-cm black eschars on her left lateral thigh.

Schistosomes causing cercarial dermatitis: a mini-review of current trends in systematics and of host specificity and pathogenicity

The human infection known under the names cercarial dermatitis or swimmers' itch is generally associated with swimming in lakes all over the world, however, a number of outbreaks of cercarial dermatitis developing in salt or brackish waters are also reported. The disease presents as allergic reaction which is able to trap and eliminate the parasites in the skin. However, the infection can be linked to more than skin symptoms under certain circumstances. Recent studies on bird schistosomes have shown that during primary infections of noncompatible hosts (mice) the parasites may migrate through visceral and nervous tissues of mammals. Up to date, cercarial dermatitis has been mostly associated with the cercariae of bird schistosomes of the genus Trichobilharzia. Recent findings of new genera and species indicate, however, broader spectrum of causative agents of the disease with different life cycles, host specificity and pathogenicity.

ADAPTATION OF RAINBOW FISH TO LAKE AND STREAM HABITATS

Fish occupy a range of hydrological habitats that exert different demands on locomotor performance. We examined replicate natural populations of the rainbow fishes Melanotaenia eachamensis and M. duboulayi to determine if colonization of low-velocity (lake) habitats by fish from high-velocity (stream) habitats resulted in adaptation of locomotor morphology and performance. Relative to stream conspecifics, lake fish had more posteriorly positioned first dorsal and pelvic fins, and shorter second dorsal fin bases. Habitat dimorphism observed between wild-caught fish was determined to be heritable as it was retained in M. eachamensis offspring raised in a common garden. Repeated evolution of the same heritable phenotype in independently derived populations indicated body shape divergence was a consequence of natural selection. Morphological divergence between hydrological habitats did not support a priori expectations of deeper bodies and caudal peduncles in lake fish. However, observed divergence in fin positioning was consistent with a family-wide association between habitat and morphology, and with empirical studies on other fish species. As predicted, decreased demand for sustained swimming in lakes resulted in a reduction in caudal red muscle area of lake fish relative to their stream counterparts. Melanotaenia duboulayi lake fish also had slower sustained swimming speeds (Ucrit) than stream conspecifics. In M. eachamensis, habitat affected Ucrit of males and females differently. Specifically, females exhibited the pattern observed in M. duboulayi (lake fish had faster Ucrit than stream fish), but the opposite association was observed in males (stream males had slower Ucrit than lake males). Stream M. eachamensis also exhibited a reversed pattern of sexual dimorphism in Ucrit (males slower than females) relative to all other groups (males faster than females). We suggest that M. eachamensis males from streams responded to factors other than water velocity. Although replication of muscle and Ucrit phenotypes across same habitat populations within and/or among species was suggestive of adaptation, the common garden experiment did not confirm a genetic basis to these associations. Kinematic studies should consider the effect of the position and base length of dorsal fins.

Adaptation of rainbow fish to lake and stream habitats.

Fish occupy a range of hydrological habitats that exert different demands on locomotor performance. We examined replicate natural populations of the rainbow fishes Melanotaenia eachamensis and M. duboulayi to determine if colonization of low-velocity (lake) habitats by fish from high-velocity (stream) habitats resulted in adaptation of locomotor morphology and performance. Relative to stream conspecifics, lake fish had more posteriorly positioned first dorsal and pelvic fins, and shorter second dorsal fin bases. Habitat dimorphism observed between wild-caught fish was determined to be heritable as it was retained in M. eachamensis offspring raised in a common garden. Repeated evolution of the same heritable phenotype in independently derived populations indicated body shape divergence was a consequence of natural selection. Morphological divergence between hydrological habitats did not support a priori expectations of deeper bodies and caudal peduncles in lake fish. However, observed divergence in fin positioning was consistent with a family-wide association between habitat and morphology, and with empirical studies on other fish species. As predicted, decreased demand for sustained swimming in lakes resulted in a reduction in caudal red muscle area of lake fish relative to their stream counterparts. Melanotaenia duboulayi lake fish also had slower sustained swimming speeds (Ucrit) than stream conspecifics. In M. eachamensis, habitat affected Ucrit of males and females differently. Specifically, females exhibited the pattern observed in M. duboulayi (lake fish had faster Ucrit than stream fish), but the opposite association was observed in males (stream males had slower Ucrit than lake males). Stream M. eachamensis also exhibited a reversed pattern of sexual dimorphism in Ucrit (males slower than females) relative to all other groups (males faster than females). We suggest that M. eachamensis males from streams responded to factors other than water velocity. Although replication of muscle and Ucrit phenotypes across same habitat populations within and/or among species was suggestive of adaptation, the common garden experiment did not confirm a genetic basis to these associations. Kinematic studies should consider the effect of the position and base length of dorsal fins.

Water safety

When you hear the term “water safety,” what comes to mind? Do you think of swimming in lakes, quarries, or backyard pools? Do toilets, even buckets, come to mind? Safety measures are required in any situation involving water to keep people—especially children—safe.

Enterococcal numbers measured in waters of marine, lake, and river swimming sites of the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

In the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, 32 coastal beach sites, 23 lake beach sites, and 31 river swimming hole sites were sampled for enterococci as indicators of bathing suitability over 3 summers (from 1991 to 1995). The median enterococcal numbers of 5 samples collected from each site over each season were compared to the guideline medians: 35 and 33 enterococci per 100 ml for marine and fresh waters, respectively. The “5‐sample median” values generally agreed with longer‐term medians (n = 24, 28) from river and estuary sites sampled between 1990 and 1994. During the summers of 1991 and 1993, high enterococcal numbers at marine and lake swimming sites were assumed to be derived primarily from sewage effluent and farm run‐off, either directly or from freshwater inflows. Enterococcal numbers dropped significantly in these waters when effluents were either treated or removed from the waters. In 1995, all marine bathing waters complied with the guideline value of 35 enterococci per 100 ml. Evidence from long‐term monitoring of estuary sites indicated that most marine bathing sites have high‐quality bathing water with short‐term variability caused by winds, tides, and outfall discharges. In 1995, all but one lake site complied with the freshwater median guideline of 33 enterococci per 100 ml. Most upstream river sites also complied with the freshwater guideline. However, river sites in the mid reaches and down stream recorded high enterococcal numbers which increased slightly at some sites from 1992 to 1995. The most significant increase in bacterial numbers was recorded in the small river and stream swimming holes which carry low volumes of water (< 1000 1 s−1), particularly in the western area of Lake Rotorua. The main source of enterococci in river waters was most likely run‐off from dairy farms on the flood plains of the various rivers of the Bay of Plenty.

Lake-Associated Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7—Illinois, 1995

On July 5, 1995, the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) in northern Illinois received a report from the local hospital of five cases of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection among children who resided in Rockford. Interviews of the children's parents revealed no common food source; however, on June 24-25, they all had visited an Illinois state park with a lake swimming beach. On July 6, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) closed the swimming beach because of suspected transmission of infection through lake water. WCHD and IDPH investigated the outbreak to assess risk factors for illness and determine the source of infection. This report summarizes the findings of the investigation, which indicate that ingesting contaminated and untreated lake water can result in infection.