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Health risks of early swimming pool attendance
Yvonne Schoefer1, Anne Zutavern, Inken Brockow
1GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany. yvonne.schoefer@gsf.de
Insights
Baby swimming may increase infection risks in infants, including diarrhea and respiratory issues. However, early swimming does not appear linked to atopic diseases like asthma or hay fever by age six.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Swimming pool attendance, particularly baby swimming, is popular but concerns exist regarding chlorination by-products and health.
- Previous research suggests potential adverse health effects from swimming pool exposure in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between early swimming pool attendance, specifically baby swimming, and the incidence of early childhood infections.
- To assess the relationship between early swimming and the development of allergic diseases up to age six.
Main Methods:
- Prospective birth cohort study with 2192 children followed for six years.
- Data collected via parental questionnaires on swimming habits, lifestyle, and medical history.
- Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to determine associations.
Main Results:
- Infants not participating in baby swimming showed lower rates of diarrhea (OR 0.68) and potentially fewer airway infections (OR 0.85).
- No significant association was found between early swimming and atopic dermatitis or hay fever by age six.
- A higher rate of asthma was observed in swimmers (OR 2.15), though reverse causation is a possibility.
Conclusions:
- Baby swimming may pose risks for infant infections, contrary to common assumptions.
- Current German regulations on chlorine may not adequately protect against gastrointestinal infection risks.
- No verifiable detrimental effect of early swimming on the development of atopic diseases was found.
Abstract:
Swimming pool attendance and exposure to chlorination by-products showed adverse health effects on children. We assessed whether early swimming pool attendance, especially baby swimming, is related to higher rates of early infections and to the development of allergic diseases. In 2003-2005, 2192 children were analysed for the 6-year follow-up of a prospective birth cohort study. Data on early swimming pool attendance, other lifestyle factors and medical history were collected by parental-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate associations. Babies who did not participate in baby swimming had lower rates of infection in the 1st year of life (i) diarrhoea: OR 0.68 CI 95% 0.54-0.85; (ii) otitis media: OR 0.81 CI 95% 0.62-1.05; (iii) airway infections: OR 0.85 CI 95% 0.67-1.09. No clear association could be found between late or non-swimmers and atopic dermatitis or hay fever until the age of 6 years, while higher rates of asthma were found (OR 2.15 95% CI 1.16-3.99), however, potentially due to reverse causation. The study indicates that, in terms of infections, baby swimming might not be as harmless as commonly thought. Further evidence is needed to make conclusions if the current regulations on chlorine in Germany might not protect swimming pool attendees from an increased risk of gastrointestinal infections. In terms of developing atopic diseases there is no verifiable detrimental effect of early swimming.
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