LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE

Legionnaires disease is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria. Symptoms of Legionnaires diseaseinclude fever, chills, a cough and sometimes muscle aches and headaches. Lab tests can detect the specific bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease. Legionnaires disease a potentially fatal form of pneumonia which can affect anybody, but which principally affects those who are susceptible because of age, illness, immunosuppression, smoking etc. Legionnaires disease a type of pneumonia. It is an uncommon but serious disease. Legionnaires diseaseoccurs more frequently in men than women. It usually affects middle-aged or elderly people, and it more commonly affects smokers or people with other chest problems.

About half the cases of Legionnaires diseaseare caught abroad, and useful advice on travel can be obtained from the European Working Group for Legionella Infections (EWGLI). The agent that causes Legionnaires disease a bacterium called Legionella pneumophila. People catch Legionnaires diseaseby inhaling small droplets of water suspended in the air, which contain the bacteria. Certain conditions increase the risk from legionella: a way of creating and spreading breathable droplets, eg the aerosol created by a cooling tower or spa pool. If conditions are favourable the bacterium may grow creating conditions in which the risk from Legionnaires disease increased. It is therefore important to control the risks by introducing measures outlined in the Approved Code of Practice & guidance document Legionnaires disease- The Control of legionella bacteria in water systems.

The symptoms of Legionnaires disease
The symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases of the respiratory tract, making it difficult to differentiate and diagnose. Symptoms include fever, dry cough, high, chills, diarrhea, shortness of breath, chest pain, headache, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Occasionally bloody sputum is produced. Drowsiness and confusion to occur in progressive, severe cases.


The diagnosis of Legionnaires disease
Although Legionnaires disease "rare, should be considered in any (especially an older or chronically ill), a respiratory infection that worsened over a period of about four days. Legionnaires diseaseusually makes its presence known in a week of infection. The disease may first appear to be mild and a result of influenza. The diagnosis is made by history and physical examination, chest X-ray and bacterial culture or silver staining.

The treatment of Legionnaires Disease
Treatment includes an antibiotic, usually erythromycin, azithromycin (Zithromax), ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or levofloxacin (Levaquin).