RELATED: Never Go in a Lake If You See This One Thing, Local Officials Warn. All hot tubs are likely to emit some steam, especially when they’re significantly warmer than the air outside. However, if the hot tub you’re about to get into is surrounded by a significant amount of steam, you may want to reconsider getting in. “Steam water is the origin of bacterial diseases like diarrhea and Legionnaires’,” says Brandon O’Malley, owner of The Sauna Company. “Most of these diseases are caused by inhaling the contaminated steam of the hot water,” O’Malley explains. For the latest health and safety news sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter! When inhaled, Legionella bacteria in hot tubs can lead to both Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac Fever, two serious lung infections.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Legionnaires’ disease is a type of serious pneumonia that can lead to confusion, cough, diarrhea, fever, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms of Legionnaires’ typically show up between 2 and 10 days after exposure to Legionella. Pontiac Fever tends to be a milder lung infection, symptoms of which typically occur within three days of exposure to Legionella; the symptoms, which usually include muscle aches and fever, typically last under a week. If you developed any of the aforementioned symptoms and have recently been in or near a hot tub, contact a medical professional. While Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac Fever can lead to serious health complications, the CDC says that healthy people typically don’t become ill when exposed to Legionella. However, current or former smokers, individuals with chronic lung health issues, people with cancer, immunocompromised individuals, people 50 and older, and those with chronic illnesses including kidney failure, liver failure, or diabetes, are at greater risk of complications from Legionella exposure. Even if you don’t actually soak in the hot tub, you may still be at risk for contracting Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac Fever. According to a 2020 report published by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), 135 people developed Legionnaires’ disease and one person came down with Pontiac Fever after attending the NC Mountain State Fair in 2019. In total, 96 people were hospitalized due to the outbreak and four died. Following an investigation, all of the illnesses were traced back to hot tubs on display that released aerosolized water, which was subsequently breathed in by fair attendees. RELATED: If You See This at the Beach, Don’t Go in the Water, Experts Warn.
