Respiratory Illness

Some water recreation illnesses can affect a person’s breathing causing cold or flu-like symptoms, shortness of breath, cough, or a serious infection in the windpipe or lungs.

Legionellosis

Legionnaire disease is a serious infection that creates life-threatening pneumonia. Another less serious form of the infection is Pontiac fever, which has the same early symptoms of Legionnaire disease (body pain and weakness, headache, fever, chills, and cough) but isn’t associated with pneumonia or death. The germ that causes the disease can be found in streams, ponds, or in man-made structures such as fountains or spas. People are typically infected by breathing in contaminated water vapor or steam. Proper maintenance of pools and spas helps eliminate this germ. Learn more at Legionellosis, CDC.

Mycobacterium Avium & Endotoxins

Water vapor or steam contaminated with bacteria or bacterial fragments can be breathed in causing an allergic reaction and inflammation in the lungs. This condition, called “hypersensitivity pneumonitis,” is rare, but has been associated with spas or indoor pools that have water features that produce vapors or mists. Water sitting in pipes that aren’t continuously disinfected can become a source of bacterial fragments. Proper maintenance of pools and spas helps eliminate these germs.