How Do You Recognize And Treat Legionnaires Disease?
• Know who gets the disease. Those most at risk includes: • People 65 years of age or older. • Smokers. • Those who have a chronic lung disease, like emphysema. • People with weakened immune systems from diseases or who take drugs to suppress the immune system. • Understand how the disease is spread. • People get the disease when they breathe small droplets of water in the air that has been contaminated with the bacteria. Examples of how this may occur include: • Inhaling the steam from a hot tub that has not been properly cleaned or disinfected. • Breathing the air of a large air-conditioning unit that has the bacteria in the system. • The inhalation of vapors from a whirlpool or heated wading pool contaminated with the bacteria. • Recognize the symptoms of the infection. Look for: • High fever. • Chills. • Cough. • Muscle aches. • Headache. • Be aware that symptoms usually begin 2-14 days after exposure to the bacteria. A milder form of the infection (caused by the same type of bacte
