UK braces for heatwave as doctor issues ‘bloody diarrhoea’ warning
After a summer of terrible weather, the UK looks like it is finally set for a spell of sunshine with a heatwave set to hit parts of the country.
But it comes with a serious health warning, according to one doctor, who has explained how it could leave you in a really serious situation with 'bloody diarrhoea'. So grim.
A 'double heatwave event' looks set to take over swathes of the UK later in July as warm weather arrives across the country and wider Europe.
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Temperature maps of the UK show we're set to enjoy a 10 day spell in the mid 20 degrees Celsius region, peaking at almost 30 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 21 July.
The hottest weather looks set to hit the country across the midlands, south east, London, and eastern edges of the country.
With the warm temperatures comes the increased chance of more and more people open water swimming. But whether you're paddling in the sea or taking a dip in a lake, health experts have issued a warning.
And it comes after a torrid spell across the UK with sewage being dumped in to the country's rivers and seas. It is estimated that sewage was spilt 464,056 times in UK waters last year, which doctors are warning could have very serious health repercussions if swallowed.
What happens if you swallow contaminated water
Dr Alasdair Scott, a gut health specialist at Selph, says: “When sewage is spilt into open water, it means it is highly likely to contain coliform bacteria, which is basically an E. Coli. The bacterias come from faeces and can cause very serious health problems if the water is swallowed, including traveller’s diarrhoea and renal failure.
“Symptoms of these conditions would manifest relatively quickly and would include abdominal bloating and cramps, nausea and vomiting, an urgency to go to the toilet, loose, watery stools and a mild temperature.”
However, Dr Scott explains that parasites like Giardia - which are often found in contaminated surface waters - can cause much more severe problems. He says: “The Giardia parasite can cause very serious health problems if it enters the human body. These range from abdominal pain and bloating, to bloody diarrhoea that can last for weeks or even months.
“Bacteria such as Leptospira can also be found in contaminated water, which can lead to severe conditions such as Weil’s disease or Leptospirosis. Symptoms are more general and include fever, headache and muscle aches."
Leptospirosis can affect your liver, and can even lead to jaundice, where your eyes go yellow. Weil's disease has quite a long incubation period too, so you could be fine for four weeks and then develop those kinds of symptoms quite abruptly.
What to do if you think you have swallowed contaminated water
It's really important to get yourself checked out, with tests available privately or via your doctor.
Dr Scott says: “If you think there’s a chance you’ve swallowed water that is contaminated water and you begin to suffer from any of these symptoms, it’s important to conduct a gut parasite, worm and bacteria test as soon as possible.
“You’ll then be advised on next steps whether your test is positive or negative. It’s also important to speak to your GP if you are seriously concerned.”
How to avoid swimming in contaminated waters this summer
You can check online to see if where you are swimming is considered safe. There's also a live map which is updated pretty much every day.
“Each year, the government monitors popular outdoor swimming spots across the country and labels them as a ‘designated Bathing Water spot’ if they meet the necessary quality control measures. There are a total of 451 official ‘Bathing Waters’ across the UK, most of which are coastal, although it does include some lakes and rivers too," Dr Scott says.
“Once the waters receive this status, they undergo regular monitoring to ensure bathers have up-to-date information on the quality of the water, and actions will be taken if minimum standards aren’t being met.
“My advice would be to check the government’s Bathing Waters list before you decide to go outdoor swimming this summer, so you can have the reassurance that your chosen spot is safe and clean enough to swim in. Or, stick to public outdoor pools or lidos rather than wild swimming spots, which are much more likely to be regularly treated.”
For the live map when it comes to the quality of beach and bathing water in England, check out the government website.
Tom Earnshaw