Legion Legionnaire disease or fever is a more severe form of pneumonia or lung inflammation. The first time occurred in Philadelphia, USA.
Outbreaks of Legionnaires disease first occurred on July 27, 1976, when many people attended the convention of the American Legion at the Hotel Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia. Legionnaire caused by a type of bacteria called
Legionella.
Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, usually in water. Bacteria grow well in warm water, like the kind found in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large pipe system, or part of a large building air conditioning system and perhaps the unthinkable by you is your Referigerator disposal.
How Symptoms?
Legionnaires disease can have symptoms such as pneumonia, so it will be difficult to diagnose at first. The signs of this disease may include: high fever, chills, and cough. Some people may also suffer from muscle pain and headaches. These symptoms usually begin 2 to 14 days after exposure to bacteria.
Mild infection caused by a type of Legionella bacteria is called Pontiac Fever. Pontiac Fever usually last for 2 to 5 days and may also include fever, headache, and muscle pain, but no pneumonia. The symptoms go without treatment and without causing further problems. Pontiac fever and Legionnaires disease can also be called "Legionellosis" separately or together.
Legionnaires disease risk?
Most people who are at risk of illness due to legionella bacteria it is a person 65 years or older, smokers, or those with chronic lung disease (like emphysema). People who have weakened immune systems from diseases like cancer, diabetes, or kidney failure are also more likely to get sick from Legionella bacteria. People who had transplant surgery or chemotherapy are at higher risk.
Most people with Legionnaires disease will have pneumonia from Legionella bacteria grow and develop in the lungs. Pneumonia confirmed by either chest x-ray or clinical diagnosis. Several laboratory tests can be used to detect Legionella bacteria in the body. The most common laboratory tests used for diagnosis is a urinary antigen test, which detects the Legionella bacteria from urine specimens. If the patient has pneumonia and a positive test, then the patient is considered to have Legionnaires disease. Blood specimens that showed elevated levels of specific antibodies when taken immediately after illness and several weeks after recovery, also can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Complication
Legionnaires disease can lead to a number of life-threatening complications, including:
1. Respiratory failure. This occurs when the lungs are no longer able to provide the body with enough oxygen or not enough to remove carbon dioxide from the blood.
2. Septic shock. This occurs when all of a sudden, severe decrease in blood pressure reduces blood flow to vital organs, especially kidneys and brain. The heart tries to compensate by increasing the volume of blood pumped, but the extra workload eventually weaken the heart and reducing blood flow further.
3. Acute renal failure. The loss of the ability of kidneys to perform its primary function. When your kidneys fail, harmful levels of fluid accumulate in the body.