Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia. It is very serious disease. It is caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella. It is estimated that in the United States there are between 10,000 and 50,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease each year. Both the disease and the bacterium were discovered following an outbreak traced to a 1976 American Legion convention in Philadelphia.Legionnaires’ disease was named after an outbreak of severe pneumonia which affected a meeting of the American Legion in 1976.
More than 43 species of Legionella have been identified and more than 20 linked with human diseases. Legionellosis is the term for the diseases produced by LDB. Two distinct illnesses, Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever, have been associated with the Legionella species. It is also known as Legionellosis, is a rare form of pneumonia. Other than L pneumophila, 34 species of Legionella have been identified, mostly from immunocompromised patients with pneumonia.
The first known outbreak of Legionnaires` Disease was at a convention for ex-service personnel in Philadelphia. Legionella species are poorly staining, obligate, aerobic, gram-negative bacilli. More illness is usually found in the summer and early fall, but it can happen any time of year. About half the cases of legionnaires’ disease are caught abroad. The other half are the result of infections acquired in the UK. Pontiac fever is a mild, non-pneumonia influenza-like illness. It is not clear why the same causal agent can produce two distinct illnesses.
Although pneumonia is the most common presenting problem, other pulmonary manifestations are frequent. Control and prevention of the disease is through treatment of the source of infection i.e. the contaminated water systems. The source of the bacterium was found to be contaminated water used to cool the air in the hotel’s air conditioning system. Legionella bacteria account for 2-15% of the total number of pneumonia cases requiring hospitalization in the United States.
The comman causes of Legionnaires’ Disease include the following:
Some sign and symptoms related to Legionnaires’ Disease are as follows:
Here is list of the methods for treating Legionnaires’ Disease:
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