Do I Have Legionnaires’ Disease?

Do you have a headache?

Do you have muscle aches?

Do you have a fever of 104 F (40 C) or higher?

Do you have shaking chills?

Does your condition worsen on the second or third day after the onset of the disease?

Do you cough and cough up mucus or blood?

Do you have shortness of breath?

Do you have a sharp pain in the involved side of the chest?

Do you have abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea?

Do you have confusion, lethargy or agitation?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have Legionnaires’ disease. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by the bacterium called Legionella. The bacterium can be found naturally in fresh water like streams and lakes. Legionella can become a health problem when it contaminates cooling towers of large air conditioners, hot tubs or hot water tanks. You can get Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling mist from water that contains bacteria. The bacterium does not spread by direct contact from one person to another. There is still no vaccine against Legionnaires' disease. Prevention involves good maintenance of the water supply system.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have Legionnaires’ disease. Legionnaires’ disease is also known as Legionellosis. It is a condition characterized by inflammation of your lungs caused by the bacterium called Legionella. In most cases, healthy people exposed to the bacteria will not get sick. However, people over the age of 50, smokers, people with chronic lung diseases as well as those with a weakened immune system have an increased risk of Legionnaires' disease. Legionnaires' disease has symptoms similar to other types of pneumonia. Diagnosing is based on blood and urine tests, and tests of material that you cough up from your lungs (sputum).

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have Legionnaires’ disease. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by the bacterium called Legionella. It is estimated that about 5,000 people in America get Legionnaires’ disease each year. The symptoms appear within 2 to 10 days after exposure, and are initially very similar to the flu. In addition to the lungs, the bacterium can affect other body systems, including the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. Legionnaires' disease is treated with antibiotics. It is necessary to start treatment as early as possible in order to avoid complications. In most cases, Legionnaires' disease requires hospitalization.