Legionnaires' Disease symptoms similar to flu, mostly appear in the summer

July 9, 1:31 PMBaltimore Disease Prevention ExaminerRene Najera

Previous Next

2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Baltimore Disease Prevention Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Imagine what's on this plate coating the inside of your lungs. Image Credit

They say that history repeats itself... In 1976, while there was a swine flu warning in the United States, about 200 people in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, came down with pneumonia. About 30 of them died from it. The outbreak triggered a meticulous investigation into the place where most of the cases were staying on their visit to Philadelphia for the American Bicentennial celebrations.

The investigation revealed that the cause of the infections was a bacteria unknown to scientists at the time, Legionella pneumophila. The disease became known as Legionnaires' Disease (Legionellosis). It was found in that outbreak that the bacteria were present in the hotel's cooling tower and had somehow made their way into the air conditioning system. Aerosol (mists) droplets of bacteria and water were inhaled by the hotel patrons.

Those who got enough of a dose of bacteria became infected. Their symptoms ranged from high fevers to coughs and muscle aches, much like flu-like symptoms. The disease progressed into a pneumonia that killed about 30 of them. Since that outbreak, testing and cleaning of the water systems in cooling towers has been mandated by some governments and highly encouraged by others.

However, cooling towers have not been the only implicated sources of the bacteria. An outbreak in 2005 in South Dakota was linked to a decorative fountain at a restaurant. The fountain was in the lobby of the restaurant, and it produced enough of a mist to make several people sick. Upon knowing this, the public avoided the restaurant, putting it out of business. The sad thing is that they avoided the restaurant thinking that it was the food that caused the cases of legionellosis, not the fountain as the health department stated. Legionellosis cannot be contracted by eating or from an infected person, only by inhaling contaminated water droplets.

Other outbreaks have implicated other water sources. Hot tubs, and showers have also been blamed. This is because the bacteria like to grow in environments with warm water. However, many legionellosis outbreaks are investigated where no definitive answer is found. This is because multiple water sources will test positive for the bacteria, or the cases will have been exposed to multiple water sources. As a result, general precautions are advised for those who may develop legionellosis because of an underlying condition.

Legionellosis is treatable with antibiotics. Viral infections, like influenza or the common cold, are not. There are antivirals for viral infections, but they should only be used when the infection is life-threatening. Both antibiotics and antivirals should be taken under the direction of a health care provider who is licensed to prescribe them. Never self-medicate with prescription drugs or use others' prescriptions. Take over-the-counter drugs with caution.

If you develop respiratory symptoms, and/or fever, seek the advice of a health care provider. Only your health care provider can determine if your illness is due to a particular virus, bacteria, or other cause, and treat you appropriately. With all the news around about the H1N1-swine flu, don't immediately assume that respiratory symptoms are from the flu.