In this period of the appearance of winter viruses, it is important to remember that the practice of baby swimming is not without risk for the still immature lungs of toddlers, because it causes a increased risk of bronchiolitis, according to a study by the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium).
Prof. Alfred Bernard, who led this study, explains: “Children’s lungs develop little by little and do not mature until around 6-7 years of age. Exposure to chloramine, which is produced by mixing chlorine and organic matter (urine …) is therefore particularly irritating to the immature and vulnerable lungs of babies. “
The risk of bronchiolitis appears to be proportional to the cumulative time spent regularly in the swimming pool before the age of two. “There is a dose-effect, explained the Professor. asthma and allergy, the risk of bronchiolitis is quadrupled for more than 20 hours spent in the swimming pool, covered or not, ”he says.
At the moment, doctors cannot say whether the use of chlorinated swimming pools can cause the onset of asthma when the child grows up. But this study, which involved 430 children with an average age of 5-6 years, is continuing.
Bronchiolitis: how to protect your baby
When there is a strong smell of chlorine upon entering the swimming pool, it is better to beware, it means that the ventilation is not suitable.
Also check with your municipality because there are alternatives to chlorine such as copper-silver or ozone and little by little, some swimming pools are adopting these new decontamination systems, because asthma is a frequent occupational disease among lifeguards.
Bronchiolitis affects nearly 30% of children under two years of age each year between the end of September and February. The virus is transmitted mainly by
air (sneezing, coughing), but also from the hands or objects soiled by an infected person. “Young and old, we are all potential carriers. A cold that seems quite benign to us can be responsible for bronchiolitis in children” explain the researchers of Inpes in their information booklet downloadable from their site.
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