Legionnaires disease is an acute form of pneumonia. It is a kind of lung inflammation caused by an infection of a bacteria called legionella bacteria (hence the name of the disease). It is rare in India, having less than one lakh cases per year. This disease spreads through inhalation from soil or water particles in the air. But it isn’t contagious from human to human. Legionnaires can be treated easily by a medical expert but left unattended – it can be fatal.

Symptoms –

While the symptoms may seem commonplace, it is always good to be aware (without being paranoid). Below are the symptoms seen in most cases –

• Cough (sometimes bringing up mucus or blood)
• Headache
• Muscle ache
• nausea, vomit, or diarrhea
• Breathing problem
• Chest pain
• High fever
• Confusion

Symptoms usually start showing around 2 to 5 days after contact with the bacteria. While some might start within two days, other signs might become visible as the disease gets more severe. Sometimes there are other mild effects like infection in previous wounds as well.

There is a less severe form of legionnaires disease called the Pontiac Fever. The only symptoms of this are high fever and muscle ache. Usually, the symptoms show earlier – around three hours after exposure and clear up within a week.

The people most at risk of catching this are –

• people over the age of 50 (age naturally weakens immunity)
• people who have chronic lung disease (making the system already vulnerable)
• over smokers (damages lungs, might lead to many lung diseases)
• people with a weak immune system (might be a result of HIV/AIDS or medications or drugs taken after organ transplant)
• cancer patients

To diagnose whether you have legionella in your system generally, doctors do the Urinary Antigen Tests (UAT). In case it comes out positive, then the treatment begins. While beginning treatment in the early stages can help quick and easy recovery, it might cause complications for older patients or chronic smokers. Even after recovery, there might be some lingering discomforts.

Causes –

While Legionella bacteria exist in the natural environment as water bodies or soil, the outbreaks generally occur in the complex systems in buildings as –

• cooling towers for air conditioning
• hot water tanks
• heater
• decorative fountains or lakes
• swimming pools
• birthing pools
• drinking water
• hot tubs
• shower heads
• sinks

Another cause of getting infected can be Aspiration. If aspirated water enters your lungs while you cough or choke, it might cause Legionnaires.

The cases of Legionnaires through the soil are often when the patient has recently performed gardening.

Final Overview

Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale is the best lung transplant surgeon in India. He conducts lung transplantation surgery in Hyderabad and is one of the few doctors to perform successful lung transplantation in India. To know more about lung transplant in Hyderabad or about Dr. Gokhale, be sure to check out their official website. The expert professionals will guide you in every step of the way and help you to effectively overcome your ailment.