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| What is legionnaires' disease? | What is legionnaires' disease? |
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| What is legionnaires' disease? | What is legionnaires' disease? |
| A potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by the legionella bacterium and caught by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water. It is not contagious and is not known to spread directly from person to person. It cannot be contracted through drinking water. | A potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by the legionella bacterium and caught by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water. It is not contagious and is not known to spread directly from person to person. It cannot be contracted through drinking water. |
| What are the symptoms? | What are the symptoms? |
| Symptoms usually begin with a mild headache and muscle pain for one or two days but these might only emerge two-14 days after exposure to the bacteria. The symptoms then worsen and might include high fever, with a temperature of 40C (104F) or more, and increasing muscle pain and chills. | Symptoms usually begin with a mild headache and muscle pain for one or two days but these might only emerge two-14 days after exposure to the bacteria. The symptoms then worsen and might include high fever, with a temperature of 40C (104F) or more, and increasing muscle pain and chills. |
| Once the bacteria infect the lungs, carriers may also experience a persistent cough, later including mucus or blood, shortness of breath and chest pains. | Once the bacteria infect the lungs, carriers may also experience a persistent cough, later including mucus or blood, shortness of breath and chest pains. |
| A third of people with the disease will experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or loss of appetite. About half may also experience changes to their mental state. | A third of people with the disease will experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or loss of appetite. About half may also experience changes to their mental state. |
| How dangerous is it? | How dangerous is it? |
| Very, especially for vulnerable people such as older people or those with underlying health conditions. The earlier those with the disease are treated with antibiotics the better. An estimated 10-15% of otherwise healthy people who develop the full blown disease die too. It is three times more common in men than women and mostly affects the over-50s. Smokers and heavy drinkers are also more prone to developing it. | Very, especially for vulnerable people such as older people or those with underlying health conditions. The earlier those with the disease are treated with antibiotics the better. An estimated 10-15% of otherwise healthy people who develop the full blown disease die too. It is three times more common in men than women and mostly affects the over-50s. Smokers and heavy drinkers are also more prone to developing it. |
| How common is it? | How common is it? |
| Difficult to tell. In its milder form, symptoms are similar to those of flu. Many cases would therefore not be reported. In 2009 there were 43 deaths from legionnaires' in England and Wales. There were 345 reported cases in the two countries that year and just under half of those were thought to have developed while patients were travelling either in the UK or abroad. | Difficult to tell. In its milder form, symptoms are similar to those of flu. Many cases would therefore not be reported. In 2009 there were 43 deaths from legionnaires' in England and Wales. There were 345 reported cases in the two countries that year and just under half of those were thought to have developed while patients were travelling either in the UK or abroad. |
| Where are the bacteria found? | |
| In low numbers in rivers and lakes but the problem comes when they quickly spread in complex water supply systems, including cooling towers, air conditioning, spa pools, humidifiers and indoor ornamental fountains. Large buildings such as hotels, hospitals, museums and office blocks are particularly vulnerable and there are codes of practice managers of such buildings need to follow to reduce risks. Water should be kept either cooled below 20C (68F) or above 60C (140F) to prevent outbreaks. | In low numbers in rivers and lakes but the problem comes when they quickly spread in complex water supply systems, including cooling towers, air conditioning, spa pools, humidifiers and indoor ornamental fountains. Large buildings such as hotels, hospitals, museums and office blocks are particularly vulnerable and there are codes of practice managers of such buildings need to follow to reduce risks. Water should be kept either cooled below 20C (68F) or above 60C (140F) to prevent outbreaks. |
| Why is it called legionnaire's disease? | Why is it called legionnaire's disease? |
| Many people who went to a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion veterans' organisation in 1976 suffered from an outbreak of this disease. Although this type of bacterium was already about, more illness from legionnaires' disease is being detected as doctors look for it when a patient has pneumonia. | Many people who went to a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion veterans' organisation in 1976 suffered from an outbreak of this disease. Although this type of bacterium was already about, more illness from legionnaires' disease is being detected as doctors look for it when a patient has pneumonia. |
| Sources: NHS Lothian, NHS Inform, NHS choices, Health Protection Agency, Health and Safety Executive, Centers for Disease Control in the US. |