In 1976 an American Legion convention was struck by a mysterious illness which made over 200 members ill and killed 34. The disease was discovered to be caused by the legionella bacteria and was spread by a faulty air conditioning system. The bacteria, named for the victims from the Legion, causes a pneumonia-like lung infection when inhaled into the lungs.
The disease is not caught by drinking infected water or from person-to-person contact. Instead it is only contracted when breathed directly into the lungs. Older individuals and those with immune or respiratory disorders are more susceptible to the illness. As are people who are frequently in contact with infected systems such as air conditioning repairmen.
Legionnaires is most often spread through water supplies in large building such as public pools, hot tubs and hotel hot water systems. Inhaling water from a shower spray or mist from a fountain are common methods of contracting the illness.
The same bacteria can cause another similar illness known as Pontiac fever. Pontiac fever is less severe and often will clear up on its own. Unfortunately, Legionnaires disease will often be fatal if left untreated.
Symptoms of Legionnaires include a high fever of 104 degrees or higher, muscle pain, chills and headache. These symptoms are often seen within two weeks of exposure and are generally preceded by chest pain, coughing and intestinal distress including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Additional symptoms include shortness of breath, mental confusion and loss of appetite. Death from Legionnaires is caused by respiratory failure, septic shock and acute kidney failure.
To diagnose the disease a doctor may test a sample of sputum, perform a CT scan or do a blood test. If you test positive you will be treated with antibiotics. The sooner treatment begins, the better chance it will have of being successful.
