Can I Get Sick From Swimming?

There are a variety of illnesses you can get from swimming in contaminated water. The most commonly reported symptom of water-related illness is diarrhea. Besides diarrhea the symptoms can include vomiting, stomach ache, and other flu-like symptoms. Skin, ear, respiratory, eye, sinus, and wound infections can also be caused by contact with contaminated water.

If you are sick and believe that it is the result of swimming in contaminated water, see your physician immediately. After visiting your physician, please contact us to tell us what beach may have caused your illness.

Some of the ways infectious organisms can enter your body:

Eye, ear, nose, and throat – water contacts mucous membranes
Gastrointestinal – swallowing or hand/mouth
Skin – swimmer’s itch (freshwater only)
Internal system - pass-through wound, or ingestion
Central nervous system (rare) – through nose

Some of the illnesses that can be contracted:

Shigella causes severe gastrointestinal illness. It has been the cause of outbreaks in several freshwater areas related to improperly treated sewage. It takes very few organisms to create an infective dose. Worldwide Shigella kills 600,000 annually.

E.coli causes severe diarrhea and can damage kidneys and liver. Certain strains such as O157H7 are particularly virulent. It only takes a few organisms to create an infective dose.

For more information on these and other parasites, viruses, and bacteria visit: