When a certain type of bacteria infects fresh water, the vaporization of that water has the potential to create a unique variety of pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease.
The manners in which water with the potential to cause Legionnaires’ disease can become vaporized are very diverse, ranging from bathroom utilities to air-conditioning units. In buildings that house a great deal of people, entire communities can be put at risk of contracting the disease through ventilation ducts. The disease cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
Symptoms
Upon contracting the disease, the symptoms that manifest are comparable to those created by a typical pneumonia infection. Coughing, a dramatically heightened temperature, muscular pain, chills and headaches are all commonly reported effects of breathing in vapor that has been contaminated by the disease. The majority of symptoms caused by the disease generally manifest anywhere from between two to ten days after the initial exposure. In more serious cases of infection, symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.
Prevalence
According to statistics reported by Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 5000 reported cases of the disease and 20 outbreaks on an annual basis. Though the global number of cases is not yet known, it is estimated that as much as nine percent of all known pneumonia cases may be caused by it.
Diagnosis And Treatment
In order to determine the exact kind of bacteria that has caused the disease to manifest, healthcare providers often times need to use x-ray imaging of patients’ chests in order conduct an all-inclusive examination.
Once the disease has been detected, the conventional methodology for treating it is antibiotic administration. Currently, there is no known vaccine to create in immunity to the disease. In most all cases of infection, hospitalization is required in order for the disease to be recovered from.
While the disease is treatable, failure to address the in a prompt window of time can cause it to intensify in severity very quickly. Failure to treat the disease properly can cause those who suffer from it to be at risk of falling into a life-threatening condition.
Risk Factors
Senior citizens are at a highest risk of contracting the disease. Those suffering from chronic lung diseases or with a family history of chronic lung disease are also at in inflated risk of contracting the disease. The chance of contracting the disease can be increased further by habitual smoking and the failure of a weakened immune system.
In addition to the outbreaks that occur in shared living buildings, hospitals and long-term care facilities are also known to present an elevated risk of outbreaks. The chance of a building’s water supply being contaminated by Legionella germs is taken higher when its facilities are not consistently kept in good condition.
The best way for building managers to reduce the risk of their own property being taken over by Legionella bacteria is to ensure that they are constantly within compliance of the latest standards for Legionella water management.
