WHO is dissing hot baths?

[RobbiRN, RN]

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water! Multiple lists and quizzes claiming to debunk the myths about Coronavirus are running this quote: "According to the WHO, taking a hot bath will not prevent you from catching COVID-19. Your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C (97.7-98.6° F), regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower."

The wording is accurate, because a hot baths do not "prevent" you from getting the virus, but hot baths have multiple well-documented benefits. The quote may be accurate about the average bath or shower, but there is a direct correlation to the temperature of the water and how long you are in it (which is why we die from extremes), so the underlying premises of the statement is flawed. Google "benefits of a hot bath" and "benefits of fever." You will find hundreds of well-documented studies from reputable sources supporting the benefits of heat in fighting infection.

The media flippantly dissing hot baths may cause many to skip one of the best basic tools of health.

[Daisy4RN]

And, if I remember correctly (as taught in school) a mild temp actually helps fight off infections as well. The WHO should clarify. The WHO also did not give accurate info in the beginning regarding the severity and possible spread of the virus from China.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

As pretty much everything in recommendations of that type, it is not meant to prohibiting people from taking hot baths. It is just so people wouldn't think that taking hot bath would prevent them from getting infected and do stop hands washing, social distancing and everything else. Nobody is disputing benefits of hot (or cold) baths per se.

In Michigan (at least) for a while there was a public opinion that "Blacks ain't get 'rona", due to overwhelmingly "Caucasian" demographics of the beginning of the wave in Washington and partially in Cali. The result of following of over two weeks of continuing of church services, family gatherings and so forth is what making Michigan third state in the nation in terms of the numbers of infected, Ill and dead from COVID19, with poor inter city and mostly minority communities being disproportionally affected.

[RobbiRN, RN]

1 hour ago, KatieMI said:

As pretty much everything in recommendations of that type, it is not meant to prohibiting people from taking hot baths. It is just so people wouldn't think that taking hot bath would prevent them from getting infected and do stop hands washing, social distancing and everything else. Nobody is disputing benefits of hot (or cold) baths per se.

Would anyone really think that one hot bath a day takes the place of washing your hands repeatedly at appropriate times throughout the day? I doubt the authors were trying to clear up that misconception. Nobody suggested prohibiting hot baths. But several of the myth lists and "quizzes" comment on the WHO quote, casting hot baths in a negative light, like"don't waste your time on this."

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

41 minutes ago, RobbiRN said:

Would anyone really think that one hot bath a day takes the place of washing your hands repeatedly at appropriate times throughout the day?

The answer on the question "can anyone be ever so stupid?" is always "yes".

[Alnitak7]

In the same way that washing your hands with hot water and soap might keep you from getting sick, I would think that a hot shower or hot bath would have similar advantages. The only problem with a bath is that it can be full of germs that sit in the water and you should already be clean before taking one.

I was taught that heat can steer off sickness and this also includes contrast baths where you switch from hot to cold.

[RobbiRN, RN]

1 hour ago, Saiderap said:

The only problem with a bath is that it can be full of germs that sit in the water and you should already be clean before taking one

Agreed. The Japanese wash before getting in the bath, then sit fully immersed with just their heads out. The water is so hot you feel like it will burn you if you move, so you just hold really still. About ten minutes in one of those definitely raises your core temperature. It's one of many reasons they out-live us by a few years and spend a small fraction of what we do on healthcare. They think we're nasty for sitting in dirty water.

[Alnitak7]

On 4/6/2020 at 3:31 PM, KatieMI said:

The answer on the question "can anyone be ever so stupid?" is always "yes".

During this global crisis, not only do I wash my hands many times a day but also tend to take a shower with soap and change into clean clothes after I've been out anywhere.

[HandsOffMySteth]

21 hours ago, RobbiRN said:

Agreed. The Japanese wash before getting in the bath, then sit fully immersed with just their heads out. The water is so hot you feel like it will burn you if you move, so you just hold really still. About ten minutes in one of those definitely raises your core temperature. It's one of many reasons they out-live us by a few years and spend a small fraction of what we do on healthcare. They think we're nasty for sitting in dirty water.

To the horror of the Japanese, some tourists get into their prized baths without first showering! ? I would also add that the Japanese eat far more vegetables and fish and much less fast food which helps to explain their heath.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

People are looking for an easy solution. Social distancing and regular hand washing are not easy to the population, they require persistence and consistency. A scalding bath would be a very simple solution.

Australia is mortified by a moron of a chef that is claiming some gizmo can protect you from COVID. Thankfully this is not his first crazy statement so most people are ignoring him but there will be a number of people who believe. This group reduces the 90% people complying with social distancing that we need to flatten the curve.