Legionnaires' disease
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,... Wikipedia
- 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, poor immune function
- Diagnostic method: Urinary antigen test, sputum culture
- Prevention: Good maintenance of water systems
- Treatment: Antibiotics
- Frequency: ~13,000 severe cases a year (US)
- Data source: DuckDuckGo