Can scabies be spread by swimming pool water?
Alexis T asked:
I was just wondering if you can catch scabies by swimming in a pool with someone who has it.
Luella
I was just wondering if you can catch scabies by swimming in a pool with someone who has it.
Luella
February 4th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Reva
Nope. But you can catch it if you sleep in the
same bed, share towels etc…
February 7th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Luana
Its unlikely. The chlorine and other chemicals in the pool are likely to destroy or sterilize any wandering remnants of the disease. If it is a regular sized pool, even a kiddie pool, it would take a huge amount of loose, infected skin in the water to make the risk of infection notable. Imagine trying to get a DNA sample of a swimmer from a pool, with only a tiny sample in parts per million.
February 10th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Billye
“Scabies is spread by prolonged skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies. Scabies sometimes also can be spread by contact with items such as clothing, bedding, or towels that have been used by a person with scabies, but such spread is very uncommon unless the infested person has crusted (Norwegian) scabies.
Scabies is very unlikely to be spread by water in a swimming pool. Except for a person with crusted (Norwegian) scabies, only about 10-15 scabies mites are present on an infested person; it is extremely unlikely that any would emerge from under wet skin.
Although uncommon, scabies can be spread by sharing a towel or item of clothing that has been used by a person with scabies.”
Hope this helps!
February 13th, 2010 at 6:42 am
Leslie
I doubt it. The chlorine would kill it.