A Case of Hot Tub Lung.

Kim, Min; Cha, Seung Ick; Shin, Kyung Min; Yoon, Ghil Suk; Bae, Junghyun; Yoon, Won Kyung; Lee, Shin Yup; Kim, Chang Ho; Park, Jae Yong; Jung, Tae Hoon

doi:2010.68.4.236

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 68(4); 2010 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2010;68(4):236-239.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2010.68.4.236 Published online April 1, 2010.

A Case of Hot Tub Lung.

Min Kim, Seung Ick Cha, Kyung Min Shin, Ghil Suk Yoon, Junghyun Bae, Won Kyung Yoon, Shin Yup Lee, Chang Ho Kim, Jae Yong Park, Tae Hoon Jung

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. sicha@knu.ac.kr
²Department of Radiology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
³Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

Hot tub lung is a lung disorder associated with exposure to hot tub water contaminated with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Although its pathogenesis remains unclear, it may be considered hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) rather than an infectious disease. We report a case which fulfilled the current diagnostic criteria of hot tub lung. A patient had worked as a cleaner in the public bath for approximately one year and presented with dyspnea for over one month. The computed tomographic finding of bilateral ground glass attenuation and pathologic finding of granulomatous inflammation were consistent with HP. MAC was isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and hot tub water. After corticosteroid treatment without antimycobacterial medication, the patient improved and there has been no recurrence. The patient has since discontinued working in the public bath.

Key Words: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, Mycobacterium avium Complex, Hot Tub Lung