Legionnaires Disease
Recently a mysterious pneumonia outbreak in Argentina has been identified as Legionnaires.
Legionnaires–
- Legionnaires’ disease is a pneumonia-like illness that varies in severity from a mild fever to severe and sometimes fatal pneumonia.
- These include fever, muscle and abdominal pain, and shortness of breath.
- The disease is most commonly transmitted by inhalation of aerosols contaminated with contaminated water, which is spread through air-conditioning cooling towers, evaporative condensers associated with air conditioning and industrial cooling, hot and cold water systems, humidifiers and whirlpool spas.
- People who have co-morbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, respiratory problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or who follow bad habits such as smoking are more prone to this condition.
- Currently there are treatments for Legionnaires’ disease but no vaccine is available.
- Patients with Legionnaires’ disease always require antibiotic treatment after diagnosis.
- The public health threat posed by legionellosis can be addressed by implementing water security plans by officials responsible for building protection or water system security.
Source – The Hindu
