ds always gets a chesty cough after swimming

[tracyk]

He goes very infrequently and always gets a chesty cough for a week or more after it. He absolutely loves swimming. Do you think I should take him more often and its cos he's not used to the chlorine that it affects him?
He goes straight into a dressing gown at the poolside and then wrapped up warmly straight to the car.

Do you think it might be an allergy to the chlorine in the water?

Is there such a thing?

Yes. My friend's daughter is very sensitive to chlorine and coughs after every swimming lesson.
I find my eyes are very affected by the chlorine in the atmosphere when I'm watching my kiddies have their lessons too. Just a suggestion.

found this info for you -

The layer of chlorine gases hovering just above the water has the potential to damage the lungs and cause asthma, if the levels are high enough. The chlorine that stings the eyes can also 'sting' the sensitive tissue of the lungs. At some pools the chlorine smell is oppressive. The risks are highest in indoor pools, and the lower the ceiling, the higher the risk. blood levels of lung proteins rise immediately after swimming; the protective membranes in the lungs become temporarily open passages.

Children inhale more air per unit of body weight and have lesser developed immune and defense systems.
Young children absorb relatively greater amounts of toxins than older swimmers and therefore, are at greater risk.

Greater toxin absorption occurs through the skin than through breathing. However, the breathing action alone is sufficient to cause hypersensitivity and "asthma-like" respiratory conditions in at least some swimmers. The percentage of asthma-like symptoms in swimmers that is attributable to exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons versus being unrelated to chlorine exposure is presently unknown. This is an area clearly deserving of further research.
Overchlorination is particularly hazardous to the health of swimmers.

Wow - thanks girls!
I wonder if there would be less chlorine in the big pool - less concentrated anyway?
I may try another pool incase this one has high levels of chlorine.
Its a pity cos they have 'lessons' for the toddlers. ie a teaching lady is in the water with them for help and advice, and there's loads of toys to play with.

Hi, This is my first post so apologies if I'm breaking in but I wanted to add to this.
The Chlorine in the water reacts with the nitrogen in sweat and creates Chloramines which polute the air in the pool. Most pools are concerned with the cleanliness of the water and not the air quality and this is usually just recirculated to keep it warm rather than being filtered to keep it fresh.
Chloramines can affect the respiratory system and so pools should regularly measure the Nitrogen trichloride levels as this has been linked to increasing asthmatic symptons. My child also suffers a cough and wheezing after swimming and we have had to change pools several times to find one that filters its air supply.
Hope this is helpful, sorry if it rambles.

Hi,
This forum has helped me solve the mystery of my sons horrendous cough he always seemed to get every few weeks.
He comes to stay with me every other weekend and I try to make sure we always go swimming on a Saturday.
Now out if the ordinary he spent a week at mine for the school holidays and it was only on the Sunday when his cough appeared very strongly that I realised the correlation between him going swimming and getting the cough as he'd been fine all week prior to swimming.
Has anyone come across any other method of combatting the super cough other than standard children's cough medicine??
Thanks