Posted on 08/18/2022 6:36:43 AM PDT by Red Badger
Dr. Keith Roach is a physician at Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital. He writes an educational column on infectious diseases, public health and sports medicine.North America Syndicate
DEAR DR. ROACH: On vacation, or when swimming in a chlorinated pool, the question often arises: How does a quick shower compare to a half hour of swimming in a properly chlorinated private pool, which leaves you cleaner? I understand that soap and physically scrubbing your body could affect your cleanliness. -- R.H.
ANSWER: Chlorine in a swimming pool is added to keep you safe from germs in water. The amount of chlorine is just a bit less than the chlorine in drinking water. This is a surprise to people who have found that pool water hurts their eyes. The reason is that skin cells (and sweat, lotions and, yes, urine from swimmers) react with the chlorine in the pool to form substances called chloramines. These are what cause the irritation and cause you to have that chlorine odor when you get out of the pool.
I recommend a quick shower before you get into a pool to reduce contamination of the pool, and a thorough scrub with shampoo and soap when you get out, to wash off the chloramines.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 77-year-old man, and I had an ultrasound done because I noticed my left testicle seemed swollen. The result showed a large fluid collection (5 x 5 x 3 cm) superior to the left testicle. My doctor said to leave it as is, but if it bothered me, he could operate and remove it. Should it be removed? Will not removing it lead to other problems in the future? -- B.K.
ANSWER: A hydrocele is the name for a fluid collection in the testicle resulting from excess fluid production or reduced fluid reabsorption. They range in size from relatively small to massive. They can cause discomfort and skin irritation when they are large.
Most of the time, they do not need any treatment. Unless it really is bothering you, I wouldn’t generally recommend surgical treatment. You can certainly wait and get it done at any time, since the hydrocele does not put you at risk for any dangerous complications.
DEAR DR. ROACH: Is it possible to ever permanently recover from C. diff? I just had a second relapse and am taking vancomycin for several weeks, as I did the last two times. -- E.G.
ANSWER: Clostridium difficile, known as C. diff, is a stubborn bacteria that may normally live in the colon, but can overgrow the healthy bacteria to cause symptoms of watery diarrhea, often with fever and cramping.
Treatment with oral vancomycin has long been the usual first-line treatment, and it is usually effective. However, a newer antibiotic, fidaxomicin, has been proven more effective and would be a better choice for you, having failed a course of vancomycin.
Unfortunately, some people can even fail with fidaxomicin. There are other options, including a monoclonal antibody to the C. difficile toxin, bezlotoxumab, which can be given along with antibiotic treatment.
The best approach for C. diff is not to get it in the first place, which is a good time to remind people not to ask for antibiotics -- and for my colleagues not to prescribe them unless they are truly necessary. Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, like omeprazole, also predispose people to developing C. diff, which is one reason I try to minimize use of these drugs.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.
No.
only if you like swimming in pee.
Proof that people are that stupid.
Chloramine gas is also produced when you mix bleach and ammonia together. Typically, chloramine gas is more irritating than deadly but in high enough concentrations it can be dangerous.
I have heard about people who pour a small amount of bleach and ammonia into mole holes and then cover the opening with a small piece of cardboard and dirt. It typically does not kill the moles but after a couple of “treatments” they tend to relocate to more hospitable mole accommodations.
Depends on the pool. A saltwater pool is about 3-5ppm chlorine and so is tap water.
Excess fluid in your testicles? That really plagued me in earlier years but luckily I found a way to get some relief.
"We don't swim in tour toilet so don't pee in our pool."
I also put up a "wee alert" sign stating that there is an additive in the pool to indicate any urinary transgressions by creating a red cloud in the water. A totally non-existent substance but I think the sign worked as designed.
I'll never own a pool again. Too much work.
There is that. But basically, if you do not use chlorinating chemicals or a “salt water” system... your water turns cloudy, green and slimy after a fairly short period of time, and it looks disgusting.
Yes, and it can literally happen in less than 24 hours. Unless, you completely cover it so that know sunlight can get in. Algae will still grow, just not as fast.
That is no of the reasons to cover a swimming pool when not in use. The more light, and higher temperature, the faster algae will grow.
I had an in ground pool for 17 years. I also had a hot tub for about ten years.
IF I ever put in another pool, I would build it in a rectangular shape with a motorized retractable cover built in. Keep it closed whenever you are not swimming in it. Your filter does not need to run as much. You do not need as much chlorine or salt to kill algae/bacteria.
Juicy Fruit gum into mole holes works even better.
The moles eat the gum, but can not digest it. Moles die. Works for Seagulls to. So does Alka Seltzer tablets.
Dr Fauci says only if someone peed in it. In that case, submerge yourself.
Last I read, they measure the amount of urine in public pools .. by the gallon.
I haven't gone swimming in a long time.
This one neat trick?............................😁
My sign on my former pool read, “Welcome to to our ool. Notice there’s no “p” in it.”
I just purchased a case of juicy fruit to try it out on moles. Did a bit of research and many people swear by it so figured I would try it.
Another great life hack is diatomaceous earth. I have been using it on everything from earwigs, ants, spiders, to yellowjacket nests. It kills them dead with no chemicals and it continues to kill them in areas not exposed to rain.
It is very cheap and a 10# bag last a long time. I use a puffer ball to disperse it.
I went swimming in a salt water pool yesterday. No need for chorine, it was a perfect way to end a 100 degree day.
We have a ‘salt water pool’.
It’s called The Gulf of Mexico.......................😁😎😉
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