What is Legionnaires’ Disease?
Legionnaires’ Disease, also known as Legion Fever or Legionellosis, is an atypical form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria (a species of gram negative aerobic bacteria that belongs to the Legionella genus). In a majority of cases (over 90%), the disease is caused by Legionella Pneumonphila, with other causative species causing a less severe influenza type of infection known as Pontiac Fever. Pontiac fever will usually clear up on its own, but untreated Legionnaires’ Disease can be fatal.
The illness first got it’s name after a large group of American Legionnaires, who attended a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion, fell ill with a mysterious epidemic of a new fatal respiratory illness upon returning home. For many months after the Legionnaires became ill, no medical professionals or testing was able to determine the cause of their illness, which was quickly picked up by various media outlets and was given the name of Legionnaires disease.
After extensive research and study, six months after the outbreak it was determined that the illness had been caused by a bacterium. This bacterium, know known as Legionella Pheumophilia, was apparently spread from the hotel’s air conditioning system and inhaled by the convention attendees.
Common symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease include a fever, chills and a cough, with some patients also exhibiting muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, loss of appetite and diarrhea. Leginnaires’ Disease can cause a severe type of pneumonia with a great affect on breathing. In some cases it can even lead to respiratory failure and ARDS – Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
A timely prescription of proper antibiotics is the most successful treatment method for Legionnaires’ Disease with any delay in treatment significantly increasing the mortality rate.
Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease typically occur after people have inhaled aerosols contaminated with the Legionella bacterium. These inhaled aerosols can come from a variety of water sources including air conditioning cooling towers, showers, spas, commercial ice machines, body misters, potting soil and CPAP machines.
Regular cleaning and testing of water systems is the means to proper prevention and spread of Legionellosis.