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Researchers: balls bathrooms at Ikea and Co make children sick

Balls baths are grossly contaminated with dangerous bacteria

Just little kids playing in a ball pit. Researchers warned, however, that those with balls-filled baths are often contaminated with germs and dirt, what is to be liable in the case of children, serious health hazards can lead to.

In the current investigation of the University of North Georgia is the Conviction of many parents, it was confirmed that the balls of the bathrooms, which are typically used in pediatric physical therapy, often contain a lot of dirt and germs, which our children sick. The results of the study were published in the English journal “the American Journal of Infection Control”.

If children are to visit in a so-called ball pit suddenly fell ill, this may indicate a contamination of the balls due to dirt and dangerous bacteria. (Image: Tanja/fotolia.com)

Many parents do not know of the danger of balls and baths for your kids

Parents try their children in the rule of possible health hazards. It is, however, not all people are aware of that many balls baths disease contain a-causing bacteria. Parents should be aware of this danger, if you let your children between the balls play.

All the examined balls had a large number of bacteria

For their study, the researchers examined the University of North Georgia ends a total of six different balls of the bathrooms in inpatient or outpatient physical therapy clinics in Georgia. From the individual pools of nine to 15 balls from different Depths were taken at random for an investigation. On all of the balls was found to have a large number of bacteria, which leads to an increased risk of infection or disease.

There were differences in the strength of the contamination

There are significant differences in the number of micro-organisms between the different samples of balls have been determined, report the authors of the study. This suggests that clinics use different protocols for the cleaning and maintenance. There is a need for clarification and definition of Standards, which can reduce the risk of Transmission, the researchers add.

What diseases can be caused by contaminated balls?

The problems of contamination can have a negative impact on the health of the in the balls playing children. Some of the balls found bacteria can cause unpleasant diseases, such as Meningitis, urinary tract infection, Sepsis, and pneumonia. Facilities with a ball pit for children, should have a standardized program for regular cleaning, in order to limit the risk of infection, challenge of the researchers. (as)