Asthmatic Bronchitis
Bronchitis Symptoms & Pool Water ChemistryAsthmatic bronchitis can be reduced in pools with proper swimming pool care, pool water maintenance and chemistry and the proper balance of pool chemicals. DefinitionThis kind of chronic bronchitis, and sometimes a cough accompanied by phlegm or mucus, is an asthmatic problem in children and adults. The chronic asthma is so persistent that the airflow in the lungs is obstructed even with anti-asthmatic medications and therapy.DescriptionChildhood asthma and chronic bronchitis affect the bronchial tree. The symptoms are usually wheezing, chronic cough, and shortness of breath.Doctors have found that it is pretty difficult to distinguish between asthmatic bronchitis and asthma in children. They do know that these disorders are fairly common in children. Risk FactorsDoctors are not sure why some children with asthma develop chronic asthmatic bronchitis. Obviously smoking in the car and house is a cause but there are also environmental conditions that could arise, and that's the reason for this page.SymptomsChronic cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing are all symptoms. People with acute asthma may have these complaints and symptoms, and children with chronic asthmatic bronchitis and other respiratory diseases have more severe and frequent asthma attacks.TreatmentsI'm not a health care provider so I cannot say what asthma inhalers are the best and talk extensively about asthma tests.What I do know is that I prefer natural remedies first. Asthma is not to be taken lightly, so if you can't find a good natural asthma treatment, you need to talk to your health care provider.
Swimming Pool Care ReasonMuch has been written recently about asthma in children, chronic and acute asthmatic bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. Many times the swimming pool (mainly the swimming pool chlorine) is blamed on these conditions. I want to give my two-cents in this debate.I believe that many of these asthma attacks and episodes can be attributed to poor indoor and outdoor air quality. When you enter an indoor public pool you may get that nasty chlorine smell. This pool chlorine smell is actually the lack of chlorine in the pool. When a swimmer's waste, sweat, urine, etc...enters the swimming pool the pool chlorine should kill this organic matter. The pool chlorine molecules bind with the organic matter, kills it, and is then backwashed out of the system. This is what is known as chloramines, or Combined Chlorine. I highly recommend a good Taylor Reagent DPD K-2006 water testing kit to test for chloramines. 
It's these little buggers that get in your airway, eyes, and nose. When it does you'll get that itchy and burning feeling, not to mention the pool chlorine smell that will seem to last for days. I believe this is the cause of many pool chlorine allergic reactions, chronic asthmatic bronchitis and childhood asthma. I'm only speaking for swimming pools and their contribution in this matter. I'm not saying that by not swimming in a public swimming pool that you'll be cured of your asthmatic bronchitis or child asthma. What I am saying is that swimming pool problems, bad pool water chemistry, and pool maintenance can contribute to chronic and acute asthma in children. In the 1 1/2 years since I've been the pool operator at the YMCA we have never had one documented case of acute or chronic asthmatic bronchitis or asthma attack brought on by poor swimming pool care or bad pool water testing. We test the Hot Tub every hour and the swimming pool every four hours and take a complete test of chlorine, chloramines, pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness each morning and night. Basic Pool Care For ChloraminesThe cure for chloramines, especially for an indoor swimming pool, is an understanding of basic pool care, pool water chemistry, and:
It is virtually impossible to keep the chloramines down to 0.0ppm in heavily used indoor swimming pools. I also have placed two high powered fans on the deck at night. These fans, along with the wall fans, are opposite of the exhaust system and will keep the air circulating to blow off any residual chloramines. You cannot totally control chloramines, but you can contain them with the right amount of swimming pool chlorine and basic pool care. I am not a doctor nor do I pretend to be one and this page is not to be used as medical advice. This is just through reading about all the "horrors" of indoor pools and pool chlorine. I have found, through personal experience, that a well maintained public swimming pool that uses good swimming pool care should not have these issues and is a fun and safe environment for you and your family. If your child does has children's asthma and/or chronic or acute asthmatic bronchitis, your should seek a good health care provider. If you decide to go swimming in a public pool, first take a "sniff" around. If you smell that pool chlorine smell, then just read the above again. If everything with the indoor or outdoor swimming pool is fine, then go swimming and have fun. Go To: Home From Asthmatic Bronchitis
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