What Is Legionnaires Disease?
What Is Legionnaires Disease?
Following a series of outbreaks in the UK, Legionnaires disease has developed somewhat of an elevated profile. These recent incidents serve as poignant reminder that is important to be vigilant about such things as legionnaires, what its symptoms are and how it can be spread so as to prevent this.
About Legionnaires Disease
Legionnaire’s disease – sometimes although less commonly called legion fever, is a form of pneumonia that is uncommon and is caused by the Legionella bacterium a widely found water dwelling organism. The name arises from a breakout of the disease in the 1970’s at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia. The disease is incredibly uncommon, however when contracted by a human can be life threatening.
Legionnaires disease can affect people of all ages. However, it is more prevalent in men than women, and has a greater effect on the over 50’s. Those who smoke and those with a weaker immune system are also potentially more likely to be affected by Legionnaires.
Symptoms Of Legionnaires Disease
Research has shown that people can become infected with Legionella bacterium, and suffer from no symptoms at all. However those who do present symptoms can suffer to a heavy degree if the right treatment isn’t administered.
The main symptoms of Legionnaires disease, tend to be flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness, aching muscles, headaches, fever and a dry cough – this can then lead to pneumonia. Additional symptoms that may not always present include diarrhoea; vomiting breathing and chest problems alongside confusont and a lack of coordination.
Legionnaires disease tends to have 2-10 day incubation period before symptoms present. This helps it to be defined as separate from other forms o pneumonia which have a shorter incubation period – often a few hours.
How Does Legionnaires Disease Spread?
Because legionnaire’s is water borne, then it is contracted by inhalation of water droplets that contain the Legionella bacterium. This can travel for over 6km – but can’t be spread person to person. Places such as cooling towers, complex air conditioning systems in buildings and other areas where water can pool are the kid of places where bacteria can breed and multiply.
How To Treat Legionnaires Disease
The only real way to treat legionnaires disease, is via a course of antibiotics. The course and strength of this is dependent on the severity of the patient and how their health in general is.If the patient has a pre-existing condition then this can make the condition worse and more care and attention is required.
Preventing The Spread Of Legionnaires Disease
In order to prevent the spread of Legionnaires disease, then it is important to ensure that all areas where Legionella bacterium can grow and multiply, then they are treated with bactericidal chemicals. Also this can be done using the SANIPACKING range from GEA 2H Water Technologies. The product works by disrupting the metabolic process of unwanted microorganisms, disallowing the bacterium to form and grow.
For more information about Legionella prevention equipment, such as Anti Legionella Fills and Anti Drift Eliminators, visit www.gea-2h.co.uk.