Swimming in the River Increases the Risk of Disease, UM Surabaya Lecturer: Here's the Reason

• 02 Jan
• 2022

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Swimming in the River Increases the Risk of Disease, UM Surabaya Lecturer: Here's the Reason

• Article
• By Uswah Sahal
• Health
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Apart from the danger of being swept away by the current, the danger of several diseases also lurk when we swim in the river. In addition to skin problems such as itching and red spots on the skin. The next problem is Leptospirosis.

UM Surabaya Faculty of Health Sciences (FIK) lecturer Ira Purnamasari explained leptospirosis is a disease caused by leptospira bacteria with the main reservoir being rats. Urine from rats infected with leptospira is the most pathogenic source.

"The main agent of transmission through water that has been contaminated with rat urine will enter through wounds on the skin," explained Ira Thursday (2/6/22)

Leptospira bacteria can survive in water for several months. The entry of bacteria into the body causes a sudden rise in body temperature accompanied by chills, headaches, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, in the advanced phase symptoms of coughing, chest pain, coughing up blood and decreased consciousness appear in the advanced phase.

According to Ira, the river water itself contains many types of dirt that contain E. Coli bacteria, especially if the dirt is swallowed, there is a risk of getting diarrhea.

Ira explained that diarrhea is a condition in which sufferers experience defecation with a liquid consistency, with a frequency of more than 3 times a day, which can be accompanied by bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever.

"Apart from containing E. Coli bacteria, river water can contain Salmonella typhi bacteria which can cause typhus or typhoid fever," added Ira again.

Transmission of Salmonella typhi into the human body can be through the transmission of feces, namely where individual feces (feces) containing Salmonella typhi are in rivers.

"The entry of bacteria into the digestive tract causes fluctuating body temperature, headaches, muscle aches, upper right abdominal pain, uncomfortable feelings in the stomach, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, to intestinal bleeding, shock, to decreased consciousness," he said. .