Symptoms and Risks of Legionnaires Disease

Legionnaires disease is a potentially serious respiratory infection caused by breathing in contaminated air. People with chronic respiratory conditions weakened immune systems, or those over 50 are at a greater risk. The disease can also affect people in nursing homes or hospitals. Listed below are some of the symptoms and risks of legionnaires disease.

Symptoms

Legionnaires’ disease is a bacterial infection that can be life-threatening. Although most patients will recover without treatment, some will become seriously ill and require hospitalization. While it is rare for a child to contract the disease, adults over 50 and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of contracting it. As the disease progresses, chest pains and shortness of breath may develop.

The prevalence of Legionnaires disease is estimated to be around 10 percent, with most cases occurring in the summer and early autumn. Because the disease is often underdiagnosed, it is essential to identify any symptoms of the infection as early as possible. Many cases are never reported, and some people may experience no symptoms.

When you develop the first symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, your doctor may want to take a chest x-ray. This will help determine whether Legionella causes the infection. You may also need to have blood and sputum tests performed to determine whether you have the infection. Sputum samples may contain numerous neutrophils, which are a good indicator of the presence of Legionella. If the infection is severe enough, you will need antibiotics for at least 14 days. In addition, if you have a weakened immune system, you will likely need to continue treatment for three weeks. Ultimately, the success of your treatment depends on your condition, immune system, and the number of bacteria in your lungs.

Diagnosis

Legionnaires’ disease is a rare disease that primarily affects people aged 50 and older. This form of pneumonia is much more severe than other forms of pneumonia and may require hospitalization and intensive care. Treatment is typically antibiotic monotherapy (using a single antibiotic), such as levofloxacin, azithromycin, or clindamycin. Despite its relatively low mortality rate, Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal in some patients.

Diagnosis of legionnaires’ disease involves the use of several laboratory tests. These tests include the urinary antigen test, which detects the presence of Legionella bacteria in the urine. A positive urinary antigen test indicates that a patient has Legionnaires’ disease. A lung biopsy specimen and sputum samples are also helpful in making a definitive diagnosis.

When culture and PCR are unavailable, serological testing may be used. Serological testing may also be used for a delayed diagnosis. If a case is suspected, the diagnosis should be rapid and aggressive.

Treatment

Tetracycline is a second-line treatment for Legionnaires’ disease, combined with other antibiotics. It is also effective in cases where primary therapy fails or when the patient has an allergy to the mainstays of therapy. However, this antibiotic is not without risks, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved a boxed warning about its use. For instance, tigecycline has a higher risk of death than other antibiotics, especially in patients with underlying health problems such as sepsis or hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Treatment for Legionnaires disease is dependent on the severity of the disease, comorbidities, and type of antibiotics. A three to seven-day course of antibiotics is usually enough for patients with mild disease. However, patients with severe disease, immunocompromised status, or chronic comorbidities may require more prolonged treatment.

Treatment of Legionnaires disease requires early diagnosis. Symptoms of the disease include a fever, a dry or wet cough, loss of appetite, and confusion. In addition, one-third of patients cough up blood. Other possible symptoms include fatigue, loss of coordination, nausea, and vomiting. For severe cases, patients may also experience neurological symptoms. A chest x-ray may reveal pneumonia at the base of the lungs.