Question 1

what is legionnaires' disease?

Accepted Answer

A type of pneumonia: It is a type of pneumonia caused by a bacterium called legionella.  This bacterium likes to grow in standing water such as in air conditioning units.

Question 2

is legionnaires' disease common?

Accepted Answer

No: Legionella rarely affects immunocompetent persons. Rare outbreaks like the legionairres have been reported in the us, but again it is not very common.

Question 3

what causes legionnaires disease?

Accepted Answer

Legionella sp.: Legionella pneumophilia is the bacteria that causes legionaires' disease. It was first recognized when it caused an epidemic of pneumonia at a pennsylvania state american legion convention in philadelphia in 1976.  Thus the name.

Question 4

how do you get legionnaires disease?

Accepted Answer

Legionnaire's Dz: The bacterium Legionella Pneumophila causes most cases of Legionnaire's Disease &amp; is spread when microscopic water drops are inhaled.

Question 5

how is legionnaires' disease treated?

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics: The most common ones are from the class of quinolones (levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gemifloxacin) or newer macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin). The antibiotics used most frequently have been Levofloxacin and azithromycin.

Question 6

what are signs of legionnaires' disease?

Accepted Answer

Cough, SOB ,fever: Legionaires' disease cannot accurately be differentiated from other forms of pneumonia based on signs and symptoms.  The most common  symptoms of pneumonia are cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, fever, chills, and chest pain on inspiration.  Muscle aches, diarrhea, confusion, low sodium and phosphorus levels and elevated liver enzymes arealso  common findings in legionaires' disease.

Question 7

how is legionnaires disease transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Ihalation: The bacterium Legionella Pneumophila causes most cases of Legionnaire's Disease &amp; is spread when microscopic water drops are inhaled.

Question 8

is legionnaires' disease easy to diagnose?

Accepted Answer

No: Presentation includes respiratory symptoms such as cough (may not be productive) and sob, fever, chills, and chest pain. Other symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. May also be characterized by a fever with a pulse-temperature dissociation, nonproductive cough, few pulmonary symptoms, diarrhea, hyponatremia, and elevated AST and alt.

Question 9

how did legionnaires' disease get its name?

Accepted Answer

Interesting fact: Legionairres got its name when several members who attended an american legion convention in philadelphia in 1976 developed pneumonia. The bacteria that caused the pneumonia was identified and named legionella.

Question 10

what are the symptoms of legionnaires disease?

Accepted Answer

Pneumonia: Generally, patients have pneumonia: difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, fever, chills, weight loss. They are sometimes called "walking pneumonia" since you are sick, but not usually in a hospital.

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