One research team found 31 bacterial species and one species of yeast in ball pits they tested. Some of those bugs are responsible for pink eye, UTIs, bloodstream infections, heart inflammation and more.
"Be aware of this if you take your child to a physical therapy clinic, especially if the child has a compromised," said senior study author Dobrusia Bialonska, assistant professor of environmental microbiology at the University of North Georgia.
But kids should wash their hands when they jump out of the pit, especially if they're going to eat after playing, Bialonska quickly added. Researchers noted a significant variation in the extent of microbial contamination from clinic to clinic. That suggests a need to develop guidelines for cleaning the balls and the pit area when they are used for physical therapy in potentially vulnerable kids, researchers said.
"Common sense has to dictate how you address risks as a parent," she said."If there's somewhere germy, what will you do to decrease the risk? A little bit of germs isn't awful. Carry antibiotic wipes.""Many of the microbes isolated are part of our normal flora," said Dr. Salman Khan, an infectious disease physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
17 Celebrity Kids Who Are Taking Over HollywoodThese kids might have famous parents but are stars in their own right.
Read more »
Mom Of Child With Cancer Begs Parents To Vaccinate Their Kids In Viral Twitter Thread'Please vaccinate your kids. Please get your flushot.'
Read more »
“I’m an OK Mom — and That’s OK”'All of us want to be our best selves. But I’m here to argue that being imperfect IS being our best self, especially when it comes to parenting.' This article from ParentADHD_ASD is such a refreshing take on parenting!
Read more »
Everything you need to know about hearing loss in kidsIt’s one of the most common congenital disorders, but hearing loss in children can go unnoticed, leaving kids unable to access resources and treatments.
Read more »
Miley Cyrus doesn't want kids because 'the earth can't handle it''We’ve been doing the same thing to the earth that we do to women. We just take and take and expect it to keep producing.'
Read more »