Higher infection rate for babies who swim in first year

LETTING infants swim in pools during the first year of life may increase the risk of diarrhoea and middle ear infections, a new study has found.

But it may not increase their risk of atopic diseases, such as asthma and eczema.

Scientists who examined more than 2,000 children found that those who did not attend swimming pools in their first year had a much lower rate of infection, particularly diarrhoea.