Health
Hot tubs a cough culprit
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 13, 2005
Twenty-two patients who had been coughing and breathless for at least seven months were diagnosed with "hot tub lung" at a poster presentation at the American Thoracic Society's international conference held last month in San Diego.
Examinations of the patients revealed evidence of diffuse lung disease and positive Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare cultures from respiratory secretions, lung tissue or hot tub water. Other than hot tub exposure, the physicians could identify no other cause of illness.
The patients were advised to avoid hot tubs. Of the patients followed, 12 received corticosteroids and five had antimycobacterial therapy. All experienced improvements.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/06/13/hlbf0613.htm.
