Legionnaire's disease
Legionnaire's disease (pronounced: lee-juh-NAIRZ) is a severe form of pneumonia — lung inflammation usually caused by infection. It's caused by a bacterium known as Legionella pneumophila.
Etymology
The disease is named after the outbreak where it was first identified, the 1976 American Legion convention in Philadelphia. The term "Legionnaire's disease" was coined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to describe the collective illnesses that affected over 200 people, resulting in 29 deaths.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Legionnaire's disease are similar to other types of pneumonia and it often looks the same on a chest X-ray. Symptoms include a high fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, and headaches. These symptoms usually begin 2 to 10 days after being exposed to the bacteria, but it can take longer so people should watch for symptoms for about 2 weeks after exposure.
Causes
Legionnaire's disease is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The bacteria are found most often in warm water environments. They have been found in large plumbing systems, hot tubs, air-conditioning systems for large buildings, and hot water tanks. The disease is contracted by inhaling mist from water that contains the bacteria.
Treatment
Legionnaire's disease is treated with antibiotics. As the disease can be severe, treatment usually begins as soon as Legionnaire's is suspected, without waiting for confirmation by lab tests.
Prevention
Prevention of Legionnaire's disease involves good maintenance of water systems, as the Legionella pneumophila bacteria grows in warm water. Regular checks and adequate disinfection can help to reduce the risk of bacterial growth.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Legionnaire's disease
- Wikipedia's article - Legionnaire's disease
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski