subject: Healthy Living:cleaning Your Hot Tub And Preventing Diseases [print this page] A tub filled with heated water used for soaking the body is called a Hot Tub. Relaxation, massage and hydrotherapy are just some of the uses of a hottub, also called a portable spa or jacuzzi. Unlike the bath tub which is indoors, a jacuzzi or spa is usually placed outside and its water is heated and it has jets that shoot out pressurized water that massages the body while it soaks.
A Hot Tub needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent you from contracting harmful diseases. Folliculitus, Legionnaires Disease, Cryptosporidiosis and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis are just some or the most common diseases that can live on a tub. Folliculitus is more commonly known as a "hot tub rash". It is contracted by prolonged soaking in water that carries the bacteria which thrives in a poorly maintained tub.
A regular rash is what it usually looks like and usually clears up by itself without the need for medications. A type of pneumonia caused by bacteria in dirty water causes Legionnaires Disease. Inhaling steam or water vapor from the tub that carries the bacteria is the cause for this disease. A round of anti-biotics is needed to treat Legionnaires Disease, this type of disease can become deadly if not treated because it attacks the lungs. A parasite found in human and animal feces is the Cryptosporidiosis.
It is uncommon but swallowing contaminated tub water can cause this. More commonly known as the "hot tub lung", Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis is a bacteria that targets the lungs. It is contracted the same way as a Legionnaires Disease, through water vapor or steam from the hot tub. It is the most rare of all diseases that can be contracted from a hot tub.
A poorly maintained portable spa, jacuzzi or hot tub will be more prone to bacteria causing diseases. The only way to ensure safety from diseases is to keep the tub regularly cleaned and maintained. Make sure to clean or replace the hot tub filter as necessary because some diseases thrive on the filter because that is where the scum from the tub are gathered.
You will have to have the right kind of chemicals to clean your tub. You should have a reliable water sampler that will check the chemical levels of your tub to figure out what kind of cleaning aids you need. Your local supply store will be able to tell you which cleaning aids to use and which chemicals to use so bring a sample if you're unsure with your findings. It is important that you have the right chemicals to clean your tub with otherwise you may create fumes that can be harmful for your health. Make it a point to drain the water after each use to prevent bacteria from thriving within the tub.
