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According to reports, an 11-year-old girl from Austria contracted gonorrhea after swimming in a hot spring pool during a vacation to Italy. 

Her family-including her mother, father and sister-have been swimming in the volcanic lake Specchio di Venere or "Mirror of Venus" on the island of Pantelleria off the coast of Sicily. Two days later, she began to experience a painful burning sensation, which indicated that she was suffering from a sexually transmitted disease.

According to a new study published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports, doctors believe that moderately warm water temperature is a breeding ground for infection.

According to reports, the family separated while swimming. She and her father waded into a 20 cm deep swimming pool-there are several adjacent hot springs by the lake-while her mother and sister went to another one.

The girl was initially treated with an over-the-counter anti-fungal cream because the family went on vacation and they mistakenly believed her discomfort was some kind of fungal disease.

However, when she returned to Austria about two weeks later, her symptoms did not completely subside, which prompted her parents to make an appointment with their family doctor.

The swab test showed that she was infected with the disease. At the same time, the test results of the other three family members were all negative. The girl also insisted that she did not involve sex.

Taking into account the time of her symptoms, follow-up examinations with her family, and "no evidence" intercourse, the doctor concluded that the girl was most likely to be infected while immersed in a Pantelleria swimming pool.

She received standard antibiotic treatment for gonorrhea, including an injection and a course of pills, after which she fully recovered from the embarrassing and terrifying torture.

The report revealed: "Her first reaction was that her new classmates might hear of this infection." "The pressure of adapting to the new school combined with the infection caused crying and fatigue, especially before treatment, because she was very afraid of infusions. "

Dr. Felicity Goodyear-Smith of the University of Auckland in New Zealand and Robert Schabetsberger of the University of Salzburg in Austria describe the favorable infection conditions in the “Mirror of Venus” hot spring as a slightly acidic, “almost stagnant” pool that rises to Close to body temperature-all of these can help Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the bacteria that cause "clap") to survive.

Most bacteria thrive in a mild temperature of 41 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit, while the human body temperature is about 98.6 degrees, which is just in this range.

The researchers warned: “The public needs to be made aware that people who bathe in the frequently visited shallow hot spring pools may be exposed to pathogens through inoculation by other bathers.” “A sign should allow visitors to pay attention to strict hygiene before entering the swimming pool. "It is also recommended to use antibacterial soap in easy-to-access shower rooms before and after bathing. This will help prevent spring water from being contaminated.

This is especially important for young girls because their pH balance is lower than that of adult women and therefore more susceptible to infection, which is a factor that increases the risk of gonorrhea.

The doctors pointed out that previous reports have seen children getting infected through toilet seats and sharing bath towels with infected family members.

Moreover, although they are "almost certain" that sex is not in this case, most cases of young girls who test positive for sexually transmitted infections should be investigated to rule out sexual abuse.