The causes and symptoms of Legionnaire’s disease: What you should know

Wellbeing

If you’re not familiar with Legionnaire’s disease, you’re not alone. Legionnaire’s disease isn’t exactly common but outbreaks can occur. 

Classified as a form of pneumonia, the disease can be fatal if left untreated, which makes knowing how to identify Legionella infection symptoms crucial, especially if you believe you’ve been exposed to legionella bacteria. We’ll take a look at the causes of Legionnaires disease, along with the symptoms so you’re better equipped to protect your health.

What causes Legionnaire’s disease?

Legionella bacteria can be present in water and soil outdoors but rarely multiply and cause infections. However, the bacteria are often able to multiply in artificial water sources like indoor plumbing, air conditioning systems, pools, hot tubs, and spas.

Spray from faucets, ventilation systems, and showers can contain the bacteria and if inhaled can cause Legionnaire’s disease. Some other examples of places the bacteria can grow and spread include:

  • Swimming and birthing pools
  • Hot tubs and whirlpools
  • Drinking water
  • Hot water tanks and heaters
  • Decorative fountains
  • Cooling towers in air conditioning systems

We noted earlier that the bacteria can live in soil and it’s possible to contract Legionnaire’s disease after working with contaminated soil. However, the majority of Legionnaire’s disease cases are caused by inhaling droplets of contaminated water.

Factors that can increase your risk of contracting Legionnaire’s disease

Even though anyone can catch Legionnaire’s disease after being exposed to the bacteria, some factors can increase your risk. Adults 50 and older tend to be more susceptible to infection. In nursing homes and hospitals, this can be a problem since the bacteria can easily spread from one patient to another.

Other risk factors include:

  • Smoking: Legionnaire’s disease is an inflammatory lung illness. Smoking can damage your lungs making you more susceptible to the disease, and this also applies to vaping, since it is a form of smoking. Even though you’re eliminating the carcinogens, vaping can still cause lung damage.
  • Have a chronic illness: If you have a pre-existing condition like diabetes, emphysema, kidney or lung disease, you’re at an increased risk of catching Legionnaire’s disease after being exposed to the bacteria.
  • Immunity: Your immune system plays a large role in whether or not you’re diagnosed with Legionnaire’s disease. Your immune system is responsible for fighting off bacterial infections. Remember, Legionnaire’s disease is a bacterial infection. Some prescription medications can temporarily compromise your immune system, along with some diseases like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

If you’ve recently undergone transplant surgery, your medications to help prevent rejection can also weaken your immune system.

How do you know if you’ve contracted Legionnaire’s disease?

Legionnaire’s disease isn’t asymptomatic, meaning that the disease will display noticeable symptoms. You should start experiencing some symptoms between two and ten days after exposure to legionella bacteria.

Your initial symptoms typically include muscle aches and a headache, along with a high fever. Your fever can be 104 F or even higher. If your fever climbs to 104 F, it’s a good idea to see a healthcare professional. High fevers can be dangerous, and possibly life-threatening.

After experiencing these initial symptoms, you may develop a cough, which usually occurs around the second or third day. You may cough up phlegm or blood, while common with Legionnaire’s disease, you should report this symptom to your primary care physician.

Other symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

You can also experience some confusion, typically caused by a high fever. Even though Legionnaire’s disease primarily impacts your lungs, it can affect other organs like your heart.

Exposure to legionella bacteria doesn’t always lead to Legionnaires disease. You can develop a milder form of the illness, Pontiac fever. Since Pontiac fever doesn’t affect your lungs, symptoms are less severe and usually clear up without prescription medication in a few days.

Potential complications from Legionnaires disease

While most cases of Legionnaire’s disease eventually clear up with treatment, there can be complications. Unfortunately, fatalities from Legionnaire’s disease can also occur. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 400 people die annually from the bacterial infection.

However, fatalities are usually preventable with treatment:

  • Delaying treatment for Legionnaire’s disease can lead to life-altering complications like respiratory and kidney failure. Respiratory failure occurs when the lungs can’t remove carbon dioxide from your blood or supply you with enough oxygen.
  • Kidney failure happens when the organ can’t remove waste from your blood. If caught in time, lung and kidney failure may be treatable.

Another possible complication is septic shock, which occurs when your blood pressure suddenly drops and blood flow is limited to organs like your kidneys and brain.

Treating Legionnaire’s disease

Legionnaire’s disease is typically diagnosed through blood and urine tests. Chest X-rays and lung tissue tests can also identify the presence of the disease. In comparison, Pontiac fever goes away without treatment. In other words, you can grab some over-the-counter remedies and should start feeling better in a couple of days.

Legionnaire’s disease doesn’t clear up on its own. Ignoring or failing to treat your symptoms usually leads to hospitalization and possible severe complications. However, when treated promptly, Legionnaire’s disease usually doesn’t have a long-lasting effect once it’s cleared up.

So, how do you treat Legionnaire’s disease? The bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics. How long it takes the antibiotics to work generally depends on the severity of the illness.

Preventing Legionnaire’s disease

Even though you can’t eliminate all exposure risks, you can take steps to minimize your chances of contracting Legionnaire’s disease. Keeping up with regular maintenance on your plumbing system can help prevent legionella bacteria from forming in your pipes, which also applies to your air conditioning system.

Industry experts recommend having your AC serviced at least once a year, and this simple maintenance step can not only improve the system’s efficiency but also limit your exposure to the bacteria. Oh, and don’t forget your vehicle’s air conditioner. The bacteria can form in your vehicle’s AC system the same as at home. Preventing Legionnaires disease is possible as long as you monitor your water systems.