What is a hot tub lung?

Author: Dr. Wyman Kerluke  |  Last update: Monday, May 12, 2025

Hot Tub Lung is a specific form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by the lung's inflammatory (swelling) reaction to liquid or solid droplets in the air contaminated by bacteria or other infectious agents. Even though it is caused by infectious agents, Hot Tub Lung is not an infection.

How do you get rid of hot tub lungs?

Treatment of HTL is the same as for any other type of HP and primarily rests on avoidance of exposure to hot tubs. Those with severe disease can be given a trial of corticosteroid therapy.

Is bird fancier's lung curable?

Acute or subacute forms may resolve with treatment, however, chronic cases may progress to pulmonary fibrosis where lung transplantation may be required [22].

What is the hot tub disease?

Hot tub folliculitis is an infection of your skin's hair follicles caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria found in many hot tubs and pools. The condition often clears up on its own in one to two weeks without treatment. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop fever or if symptoms worsen.

What is the disease in the hot tub?

People can get Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever from hot tubs when they breathe in mist that contains Legionella. People can be exposed to Legionella in hot tubs when these bacteria get into water systems and grow (increase in numbers).

Hot Tub Lung Disease

How do you tell if you have Legionnaires' disease?

Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include: a cough. shortness of breath. chest pain or discomfort, particularly when breathing or coughing.

How easy is it to get bird fancier's lung?

It can take many years of exposure to cause BFL, with an average of 1.6 years to cause acute disease, and 16 years to cause chronic disease.

What is the life expectancy of someone with hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

For patients who have chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, symptoms may not fully resolve, and research suggests that people live for about 7 years if this is the case. Some people might face progressive of the disease, which means that the scarring might get worse over time.

How to avoid bird fancier's lung?

To get bird fanciers lung your have to breathe in material from the bird to which you have become allergic. Most of this comes from the bloom which coates the feathers and keeps the feathers in good condition, this is to reduced by cleaning the bird cage. It used to be thought that the droppings were the main problem.

How common are legionnaires in hot tubs?

Legionella is a bacterium found naturally in water. When it is introduced to warm water, it thrives, making hot tubs, warm water sources, and even HVAC systems a welcome home. Each year between 8,000 and 18,000 people in the United States contract the disease.

Is a jacuzzi good for lungs?

The fumes from chemicals in the hot tub such as chlorine, along with the steam, can irritate the respiratory system. Skin Conditions: An open wound, skin infections, or skin conditions like eczema may put you at risk of further irritation or infection if exposed to hot tub water.

How long does it take for hot tub lung to go away?

Acute HP usually goes away within a few days as long as you don't get exposed to the allergen again. Subacute cases of HP (caused by longer, low-level exposure to allergens over time) can last a few months and are usually treated with medication.

What causes lady windermere syndrome?

The onset of several lung-based non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium avium complex infections is known as the Lady Windermere syndrome. The condition often occurs in older white females who habitually repress their cough reflex.

What is farmers lung disease?

Farmer's Lung is an allergic disease usually caused by breathing in the dust from mouldy hay. However, dust from any mouldy crop - straw, corn, silage, grain, or even tobacco - can also cause Farmer's Lung.

Does pneumonitis ever go away?

It depends on what's causing your pneumonitis and its severity. It may take several months for your lungs to heal. In some cases, lung damage may be permanent.

What are the triggers for hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

Over 300 antigens have been identified as triggers for hypersensitivity pneumonitis, although farming, birds, and water contamination account for about 75% of cases. The most common antigens are thermophilic Actinomycetes species and avian proteins; the most common diseases are farmer's lung and bird fancier's lung.

Can pneumonitis be fatal?

Tissue in the lungs can become scarred, which may stop the lungs from working properly. Furthermore, the amount of oxygen reaching the bloodstream may also be reduced. If left untreated, pneumonitis can be life-threatening, as it makes it harder for the heart to pump blood through the lungs.

Is hypersensitivity pneumonitis a terminal illness?

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a rare disease, which can lead to premature death. Few studies have investigated HP on a national level.

How long does it take to recover from hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

The symptoms usually clear up in a day or two if there is no more exposure to the reaction-causing material. Complete recovery, however, may take weeks.

How rare is pneumonitis?

The estimated worldwide incidence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is in the 1/125,000-143,000 range and is highly dependent on climatic, geographical, occupational and industrial factors.

What is legendaries disease?

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia — lung inflammation usually caused by infection. It's caused by a bacterium known as legionella. Most people catch Legionnaires' disease by inhaling the bacteria from water or soil.

How can I test myself for Legionnaires' disease?

Legionella Control Internationals innovative rapid legionella testing kit, LegionellaFast uses the latest “rapid-test” technology to detect Legionella bacteria in water. It is a quick and easy to use DIY tester that will deliver an accurate, straightforward YES::NO test result on-site in only 25 minutes.

Can you catch pneumonia from air conditioning?

Legionnaires' disease, a type of pneumonia caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila, is the most talked about illness that can spread through contaminated water from an air conditioning system.

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