by Claudia Boyd-Barrett posted in Parenting

Taking your kids to the pool or water park this summer" Try to make sure no one in your family swallows the water, and if your child has diarrhea don?t let him swim.
Reports of a parasitic infection linked to swimming pools and water playgrounds are on the rise, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The parasite, called Cryptosporidium or ?Crypto,? spreads when people swallow water contaminated with poop from someone who?s sick.
Outbreaks of the infection appear to have doubled since 2014, the CDC stated. In 2014, there were 14 outbreaks compared to 32 in 2016. However, it could just be that pool inspectors and lab tests are getting better at detecting the parasite.
Crypto causes diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting for up to 3 weeks. It?s not easily killed by chlorine and can stay in pool water for up to 10 days.
Here are the CDC?s recommendations to avoid getting Crypto or spreading it to others:
? If you or your kids are sick with diarrhea, don?t swim. (And if you know the diarrhea was caused by Crypto, wait until 2 weeks after the diarrhea has stopped to go swimming).
? Don?t swallow water you swim in.
? Take a shower before getting in the water to help wash off any germs from your body.
? Regularly take your kids to the bathroom. Check diapers in a diaper-changing area and not right next to the pool.
Photos by iStock.

Do you worry about your kids getting sick from pool ...