Recreational Water Illness
Afflicting 4,600 people a year
How are they caused?
RWIs are germs spread by swallowing, breathing in, or coming in contact with contaminated water or mist.
What happens when you have an RWI?
Symptoms include vomiting, fever, cramps, and most commonly diarrhea. People with an RWI are not to swim until two weeks after all symptoms have gone away.
Common causative agents
Children and teens are at the pool more than adults, so they are the most at risk for RWIs
How do doctors diagnosis it?
A professional will take a sample of your stool and examine it for any unusual microbes.