Legionnaire's disease is a lung infection. It is a form of pneumonia . It got its name after it struck at the American Legionnaires Convention in 1976.
This disease is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophilia . The bacteria are most often found in sources of standing water. It may be found in cooling towers, HVAC systems, and air conditioners. It can also be found in soil.
Legionnaire's disease can be contracted by:
The infection does not move from one person to another.
Symptoms may include:
Symptoms that develop if the infection becomes serious include:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
Tests may include:
This disease is usually treated with antibiotics such as:
If you are diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease, follow your doctor's instructions .
Proper design, maintenance, and cleaning of high risk areas can reduce the risk of spreading the disease. This inlcludes any area with standing water.
You can reduce your risk of getting Legionnaire's disease by:
RESOURCES:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Capital Health
http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/
Communicable Disease Control Unit
http://www.gov.mb.ca/
References:
Arcavi L, Benowitz NL. Cigarette smoking and infection. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:2206-2216.
Beers MH, Berkow R. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 1999.
Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety website. Available at: http://www.ccohs.ca/ . Accessed October 11, 2005.
National Center for Infectious Diseases website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ . Accessed October 11, 2005.
Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Churchill Livingstone Inc; 2005.
Last reviewed February 2009 by Igor Puzanov, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.