Whether it’s a treat after a gruelling workout, a day out at the spa or a dip in the hotel – a hot tub can be a haven for relaxation. While some people might worry about chipping their nail polish, or others use their prune fingers to determine when to step out of the bubbled water… but this latest information might just force you to scratch the pampering treatment off your to-do list. According to Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, taking a dip in a hot tub could lead you to having an outbreak of diarrhoea. As reported by Women’s Health, the onset of symptoms is all down to one parasite - cryptosporidium. So how does cryptosporidium get into your system? (Prepare to feel REALLY nauseous)… Adalja explains that any time you get into a public pool or hot tub, you’re likely to be exposed to bodily fluids of other people. Cryptosporidium is spread through faecal matter, and the outbreaks are happening because people are ingesting other people’s faecal matter in the water. The temperature is also the perfect temperature to allow bacteria to grow – which probably won’t help you fight off the bugs that could be floating into your body. So what’s the best practice to keeping you parasite free? Wash your hands and body with soap and water when you get out of a pool or hot tub. While hand sanitizer won’t kill off parasites, using warm, soapy water should keep infection (and diarrhoea) at bay.