Legionella Pneumonia

Legionella Pneumonia General Information

This medical condition is also commonly known as Pontiac fever and / or Legionnaire’s disease. Legionella Pneumonia is considered an acute respiratory infection of great severity. Its cause is the presence of a harmful bacterium: Legionella pneumophila. This type of bacteria has been found in various systems that ensure water delivery. Studies have shown that this organism is able to survive in moist, warm air conditioning systems of buildings (including that of hospitals). This type of bacteria is known to strike its victims in late summer and / or early fall. It has not yet been clearly determined whether this medical condition is able to spread from one patient to another. Most patients who are diagnosed with this medical condition are elderly individuals or middle aged people. However, cases of Legionella Pneumonia have been reported in the case of children (however, youngsters are known to develop a less severe form of this medical condition).

The most common risk factors that make an individual more prone to developing this type of pneumonia include: long term use of ventilators (or other breathing machines), old age, alcoholism, cancer (or any other medical conditions that affects the patient’s immune system), the intake of medicines that suppress the organism’s natural immune system (especially steroid drugs and chemotherapy medicines), underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, cigarette smoking, and so on. About 8% of all pneumonia cases and 4% of all fatal cases of pneumonia are due to the presence of this medical condition. Although young patients tend to fully recover from this clinical disorder, death due to the presence of this type of pneumonia is more common in the case of elderly individuals.

Legionella Pneumonia Symptoms

In most clinical cases the first clinical manifestations of this type of pneumonia are known to generally develop seven days after the infection. In this chapter we will present you some of the most common symptoms and / or signs that are associated with Legionella Pneumonia. The initial symptoms of this medical condition include: abdominal pain, muscular pain, headaches, fatigue, dry cough, diarrhea, and so on. After a couple of days, the patient will develop symptoms of regular pneumonia: breath shortness, high fever, chills, shaking, occasional delirium, drowsiness, coughing up thick phlegm. Unless the patient receives immediate therapy for his or her medical condition, the disorder will worsen leading to very severe breathing problems. Hospitalization is necessary in almost all cases. A lung biopsy or a sample of phlegm will be analyzed. The results will show beyond further doubt whether the patient is suffering from this type of pneumonia.

Most of these clinical manifestations of Legionella Pneumonia are known to generally worsen during the first week. However, they are known to tend to improve during the following week. Other symptoms that some patients who have been diagnosed with the presence of this medical disorder have suffered from included: muscle stiffness, energy loss, joint pain, malaise, coughing of blood, ataxia, and so on. If you develop any of the symptoms that we have listed above, you may be suffering from Legionella Pneumonia. As early diagnosis is crucial in the therapy against this type of pneumonia, we strongly advise you to seek immediate professional medical care. A well trained professional will be able to set a correct diagnosis and provide you with the medical advice.

Legionella Pneumonia Treatment

As this medical condition is an infectious disease, the main weapon against it is the intake of antibiotics. Such medicines are widely prescribed to fight against this disorder. The therapy with antibiotics is started as soon as the physician suspects that the patient is suffering from Legionella Pneumonia (even if the laboratory tests have not yet confirmed the diagnosis). The most common medicines that are generally employed in the therapy against this type of pneumonia (Legionnaire’s disease) include the following medical products: Macrolides (Clarithromycin, Azithromycin, or Erythromycin), Quinolones (Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Gatifloxacin, or Moxifloxacin), and so on. In most clinical cases, this therapy option is very effective, ensuring the patient’s recovery (provided that it was started in due time, in the early stages of the pneumonia).

Azithromycin is the main medicine of choice in the case of young children who are diagnosed with Legionella Pneumonia. Most patients are administered this medicine IV (intravenously). If the patient presents a positive clinical response to the therapy, he or she may start taking the oral form of this medicine. If the patient’s health condition is severe and they do not respond well to the therapy with Azithromycin, an adjacent therapy with Rifampin should be started as soon as possible. However, the intake of antibiotics is not the only remedy against this medical condition (Legionella Pneumonia). Other therapy options that have proven their effectiveness against this type of pneumonia include: ensuring the patient oxygen (this may be done with the help of a breathing machine or a mask), replacement of the patient’s electrolytes and fluid, and so on. With the help of your health care provider, you will be able to determine which of these therapy options would suit your medical condition best.

The presence of this medical condition Legionella Pneumonia (also commonly known as Legionnaire’s disease) may lead to a set of life threatening clinical manifestations. In other words, this type of pneumonia is lethal. The patient is more prone to developing the most severe (life-threatening) complications of this type of pneumonia if he or she is suffering from other underlying medical conditions (especially underlying lung disorders). Among the most common complications that may occur in the case of patients who have been diagnosed with the presence of this medical condition is lung failure. It is best for all patients to make an urgent medical appointment with their personal health care provider as soon as they consider that they might be suffering from a certain form of breathing problem. Early diagnosis (and early antibiotic treatment) increases your chances of survival. If the antibiotic therapy is not started in time (in the early stages of this medical condition), the average death rate among patients with Legionella Pneumonia) is almost 50%. The most effective way of preventing a potential infection with this medical disorder is the treating of contaminated systems that are responsible for water delivery.