Symptoms of Legionnaire's disease (Legionella pneumonia; Pontiac Fever)

DEFINITION Legionnaire's disease (Legionella pneumonia; Pontiac fever) is an acute respiratory tract infection caused by Legionella bacteria Pneumophilia and other species of Legionella; which could lead to a series of illnesses, ranging from mild cough and fever to pneumonia.
This disease is 1-8% of all pneumonia cases and approximately 4% of severe pneumonia acquired in hospital. This disease tends to occur in late summer and early autumn.

CAUSE The cause is a bacterium Legionella Pneumophilla and other species of Legionella. These bacteria are found in water and drainage systems can survive in air conditioning systems are warm and humid in office buildings, including hospitals. Therefore, if the organism is spread through air conditioning systems in hotels or hospitals, then it could be a widespread outbreak.
Starting from the onset of symptoms, the situation will worsen in the first 4-6 days, 4-5 days and then began to improve. Most infections attack the middle age or old age, although it could also explain the kids. In children, the disease is usually not too heavy.
Legionnaire's disease risk factors:

    * Smoking sigarret
    * Certain diseases (eg renal failure, cancer, diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
    * Patients with impaired immune systems due to chemotherapy, corticosteroids or disease (eg cancer and leukemia)
    * Alcoholic
    * Middle age or old age

SYMPTOMS Symptoms include: - Pain and stiffness of muscles, - Painful joints, - No-powered, - Feeling unwell, - Headache, - Fever, - Shivering, - Dry cough, - Coughing up blood, - Shortness of breath, - Chest pain, - Diarrhea, and - Ataxia (coordination problems).

DIAGNOSIS Diagnosis based on examination results of the following:


    * Physical examination with a stethoscope will sound fine crackles
    * Examination of sputum by staining DFA (direct fluorescent antibody) showed the existence of Legionella
    * Cultures of bacteria from the respiratory tract
    * Urine antigen test showed positive results
    * Chest X-rays showed pneumonia
    * Arterial blood gas analysis showed low concentrations of oxygen
    * Calculate the blood types showed an increase in the number of white blood cells
    * Erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases
    * Low serum sodium.

TREATMENT Erythromycin is an antibiotic selected for treatment of Legionnaire's disease. In less severe cases, can be given by mouth (orally); if not possible, can be given intravenously (through a vein).
If there is a very severe respiratory problems, then the patient should be hospitalized to get fluids and electrolytes as well as additional oxygen (either through a facemask or through a mechanical ventilator). Most of the patients treated with erythomycin will show improvement, but the healing process takes a long time. The death rate is about 20%. Higher mortality rates found in those who get this disease in hospitals or in people with immune system disorders.