Exotic Tourist Destinations and Transmission of Infections by Swimming Pools and Hot Springs—A Literature Review

Athena Mavridou, Olga Pappa, Olga Papatzitze, Chrysa Dioli, Anastasia Maria Kefala, Panagiotis Drossos and Apostolos Beloukas
Additional contact information
Athena Mavridou: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece
Olga Pappa: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece
Olga Papatzitze: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece
Chrysa Dioli: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece
Anastasia Maria Kefala: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece
Panagiotis Drossos: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece
Apostolos Beloukas: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: A growing number of people undertake international travel, and yet faster growth of such travel is expected in the tropics. Information on the hazards presented by pool and hot spring waters in tropical countries is very limited. This review aims to collate available information on pool water quality, alongside data on cases and outbreaks associated with swimming in pools in tropical regions affecting both local populations and travellers. Bacteria species commonly causing cases and outbreaks in the tropics as well as elsewhere in the world were excluded, and the review focuses on studies related to pathogens that, with the exception of Cryptosporidium, are unusual in more temperate climates. Studies concerning subtropical countries were included in the light of climate change. Diseases transmitted by vectors breeding in poorly maintained, neglected or abandoned pools were also included. 83 studies dealing with Microsporidia, Leptospira spp., Schistosomas spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria spp., Clostridium trachomatis , viruses, and vectors breeding in swimming pool and hot tub waters, and fulfilling predefined criteria, have been included in our survey of the literature. In conclusion, prevention strategies for pool safety in the tropics are imperative. Public health authorities need to provide guidance to westerners travelling to exotic destinations on how to protect their health in swimming pools.

Keywords: swimming pools; tropics; subtropics; pool assessment; infectious diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/12/2730/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/12/2730/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2730-:d:187530

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().