Norway has been basking in sun and southern temperatures in recent weeks – and if we are to believe the meteorologists, there is no reason to fear that it will get colder and wetter any time soon:
The forecasts show that the average temperature will be above normal until week 30. This means that it will be a consistently warmer summer than usual.
The arrival of summer has also led to pleasant bathing temperatures throughout the country. But there are certain things you should be aware of both before and after a dip in Norwegian waters, according to FHI.
Heat record in Vestfold and Trøndelag
May cause nausea and diarrhoea
It is not just people who like to swim who enjoy the well-tempered water. Bacteria and parasites also thrive in this climate, and at high temperatures it can lead to infections in bathers.
– The most common symptoms after bathing in open-air baths with poor water quality are skin rashes or infection of open wounds, says senior adviser at FHI’s department for infection prevention and preparedness, Anders Bekkelund, to Dagbladet.
It is therefore not entirely unusual to experience itching after a swim in fresh water, according to FHI.
– Swimming itch – or cercarie dermatitis in the technical language – is an itchy rash after swimming caused by icterus. The ticks have waterfowl as their main host where they are in blood vessels connected to the intestines and nasal mucosa. Inside the birds, sexual reproduction takes place: eggs come out, and a small larva hatches which penetrates water snails. Inside the snails, asexual reproduction takes place, and thousands of so-called cercariae are formed, says senior researcher at FHI’s pest control department, Arnulf Soleng.
CERCARIE: Several people are affected by swimmer’s itch after swimming. Photo: Jana Bulantova / Norwegian Institute of Public Health Show more
These eventually penetrate the snails and will try to find a bird, but if mistakes are made, they can also get into the skin of people, he explains.
– This causes an allergic reaction in the skin and causes an itchy rash. The more times you are exposed, the worse the symptoms often become. Some react a lot, others not at all. Some will also experience nausea and diarrhea in addition to the rash.
The risk of being exposed to cercariae dermatitis is greatest in places with onshore winds. If you suspect that the water contains such bacteria, Soleng has the following advice:
– Swimming in deep areas is good advice, as well as avoiding places with a lot of vegetation in the water. You should dry yourself with a towel as soon as you get out of the water, as parasites in water droplets that remain on the skin can penetrate the skin, says Soleng and adds that sunscreen with jellyfish sting protection has been shown to have a protective effect.
The pain can last from a few days to up to two weeks. If the pain becomes too great, it is recommended to buy anti-itching agents at the pharmacy.
SWIMMER’S ITCH: This is what a rash can look like. It is a bit reminiscent of a mosquito bite, says FHI. Photo: Reidar Mehl / FHI Show more
Clear call
But it’s not just an itchy rash you can get after a swim.
In recent years, larger quantities of the flesh-eating bacterium Vibrio have been recorded along the coast in southern Norway. Although it is not a high risk in Norway now, it can lead to serious blood and wound infections.
There are also some who experience stomach ailments after ingesting contaminated water while swimming.
Fearing another dry summer
– The municipalities monitor the water quality, and usually recommend avoiding swimming if there is a suspicion that the water quality is so bad that it could cause health challenges, says Bekkelund and encourages everyone to follow the current advice from the municipalities.
FHI also makes the following appeal to Norwegians who enjoy swimming:
– Always cover open wounds, or avoid bathing with open wounds or scratches. Feel free to use swimming shoes or other footwear to avoid getting cuts on your feet. Do not bathe where there is visible pollution, for example green color in the water, which is probably caused by cyanobacteria, says Bekkelund.
2023-06-29 19:35:22
#Clear #message #sick
