Swimming in water bodies of Russia

Main article: Healthcare in Russia

Drowned in Russia

Main article: Drowned in Russia

Monitoring the level of pollution of water bodies deteriorates

When monitoring pollution of water bodies, three main indicators of the state of ecosystems of all surface waters are used: phytoplankton, zooplankton and zoobenthos. It is important to understand that in the most detail for 2019, the characterization of aquatic ecosystems is carried out only in the Far Eastern, Volga and Irkutsk Departments for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (UGMS). In 2018, the volume of work on the hydrobiological network decreased by 10% compared to 2017 due to a reduction in monitoring in the Murmansk and North-West UGMS.

Every year, state departments publish a list of water bodies providing for the possibility of swimming. However, unfortunately, for 2019 the main problem of urban reservoirs remains open, not to mention regional ones - insufficient water purification, which can serve as a catalyst for the emergence of unpleasant diseases.

According to official data from the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet), in 2016, about 2990 cases of high and extremely high pollution of water bodies in Russia were registered.

Roshydromet annually conducts a study of surface reservoirs in Russia, but in their reports they write that, quote:

"Monitoring is mainly affected by poorly polluted areas of water bodies, which account for 63% of all observation points. Water bodies in large cities with a population of more than 500 thousand inhabitants are not sufficiently covered. There are almost no observations at points with natural ecological systems located in specially protected natural areas of federal significance. Their share of all Category 4 items is less than 5%. "

Bathing risks

Not all residents of million-plus cities have the opportunity to visit resort cities in order to enjoy the rest by the sea, in connection with which, they resort to the simplest way to get what they want - city beaches, or reservoirs located near the summer cottage. There is always a risk of contracting any infection in even city government-approved bathing ponds.

Lovers of swimming in urban and regional reservoirs need to remember about dangerous infectious diseases - leptospirosis, viral hepatitis A, worm invasion.

Eye and ear diseases

Eye disease, which includes blepharitis and conjunctivitis, as well as ear disease - the most common disease is otitis externa. In the first case, you can advise using swimming glasses - this advice is more needed for those who have experienced eye problems before. This method will not provide 100% protection, but will significantly reduce the risk of this disease.

If you regularly pour water into your ears, and you are afraid of otitis, then you can try to use pharmacy earplugs - they will provide the hearing canal with protection against water ingress.

Worm disease

Worm diseases certainly accompany water bodies in which ducks swim, and stray animals have also been repeatedly noticed - in such cases, it is better to refrain from swimming.

The most dangerous infectious disease that needs to be known is leptospirosis, in which damage to the nervous system, internal organs (in particular, the liver), as well as muscles and capillaries occurs. Leptospirosis pathogens, leptospirosis rods, have the ability to persist for up to 30 days in open reservoirs and actively multiply at an air temperature of 28-31 C. The main vectors of leptospirosis are rodents. The main advice to all lovers of urban reservoirs is to avoid swimming in standing reservoirs with warm water, since an animal with leptospirosis could have bathed in them first.

Intestinal infections

Intestinal infections: Dysentery and enterovirus infection, hepatitis A virus are the most common diseases that can be infected by bathing in urban bodies of water. An adult person needs a sip of water from it to get sick with an extremely high probability. These viruses most often enter the water from the bowel movements of sick people.

Parasites

Parasites, as well as infectious diseases, enter the human body with a sip of water during bathing, as well as with direct contact of the skin with water. In the summer, the risk of parasitic infection is significantly increased due to the fact that helminths, for example, actively multiply at temperatures ranging from 20 C and above. If after bathing you began to feel unwell, you have flatulence, as well as skin itching and rashes on the skin, then without fail consult a doctor - you should not self-medicate in any case.

Skin diseases

Skin diseases: fungus, scabies, lichen, and so on. Avoiding the development of infections will help shower with soap, which must be taken immediately after bathing in public reservoirs. Keep in mind that in no case should you enter the water without a bathing suit or swimming trunks - they provide any, but protection against skin infections. If you hurt yourself while swimming, then you must treat the wound with antiseptic drugs, says Olga Sinitsyna, an infectious disease doctor at Medicine JSC.