legionnaires' disease
infectious disease characterized by severe form of infection producing pneumonia
Key facts
- Other names
- Legionellosis, legion fever
- Specialty
- Infectious disease , pulmonology
- Symptoms
- Cough, shortness of breath , fever , muscle pains , headaches
- Usual onset
- 2–10 days after exposure
- Causes
- Bacteria of the Legionella type (spread by contaminated mist )
- Risk factors
- Older age, history of smoking, chronic lung disease , staying in a hotel, spa or a hospital, poor immune function
- Diagnostic method
- Urinary antigen test , sputum culture
- Prevention
- Good maintenance of water systems
- Treatment
- Antibiotics
- Prognosis
- 10% risk of death
- Frequency
- ~13,000 severe cases a year (US)
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
Legionnaires' disease is a form of atypical pneumonia caused by any species of Legionella bacteria, quite often Legionella pneumophila. Signs and symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle pains, and headaches. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. This often begins 2–10 days after exposure.
A legionellosis is any disease caused by Legionella, including Legionnaires' disease (a pneumonia) and Pontiac fever (a related upper respiratory tract infection), but Legionnaires' disease is the most common, so mentions of legionellosis often refer to Legionnaires' disease.