Educational Content: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Definition of Recreational water illness
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Recreational water illness: An illness that is spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, decorative water fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including skin, ear, respiratory, eye, and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea. Diarrheal RWIs can be caused by germs such as Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium), Giardia, Shigella, and E. coli O157:H7.