Infants, Indoor Pools, & Asthma

(RaisingX.com) The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a news brief citing the dangers of indoor pools for infants. Our whole family loves swimming so we were a little concerned. It appears that the chemical that, “gives indoor pools their distinctive “chlorine” smell – is one of the most concentrated air pollutants to which children of developed countries are regularly exposed…this pollutant along with… can be associated with airway changes that predispose children to asthma and recurrent bronchitis later in childhood.”

Families who enjoy swimming as we do may want to reconsider their use of indoor pools for their little ones. I have seen similar articles linking indoor usage of hot tubs to respiratory infection caused by the dispersion of the water into the air by the jets, but not regular pools. Parents probably should consider this for indoor water parks, as well.

The article was based on a Belgium study, “Infant Swimming Practice, Pulmonary Epithelium Integrity, and Risk of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Later in Childhood”.

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/june07studies.htm

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