Legionellosis
Legionellosis Causes
Legionellosis is caused by a strain of bacteria known as Legionella pneumophilia. This bacteria lives in warm environments with temperatures ranging from 25 to 45 ?C.
Legionellosis Definition
Legionellosis is a contagious disease that causes respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and pontiac fever. It was first described in 1976 when an outbreak occurred in a convention in Philadelphia, U.S.A. An average of 8,000 to 18,000 people in the Unites States acquire the disease each year.
Legionellosis Diagnosis
The disease may be acquired by people of any age, but it often affects chain smokers and middle-aged persons, or those with chronic lung disease. Legionella strains are found in one's sputum and blood samples, as well in urine tests.
Legionellosis Symptoms and Signs
Like other respiratory diseases, Legionellosis show signs of fever, chills, and cough. Others meanwhile experience extreme muscle pain, headache, lethargy and loss of appetite. Medical tests also display deranged electrolytes, renal and liver functions as well as hyponatremia.
Legionellosis Treatment
The disease is treated with respiratory tract quinolones such as levofloxacin, moxifloxacin amd gemifloxacin. Newer macrolides such as azithromycin are also recommended for treatment. Tetracyclines meanwhile are prescribed to patients from 12 to 18 years of age. Pontiac fever meanwhile needs no specific treatment, as patients recover 5 to 7 days after incurring the disease.