Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria. You usually get it by breathing in mist from water that contains the bacteria. The mist may come from hot tubs, showers or air-conditioning units for large buildings. The bacteria don't spread from person to person.
Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include fever, chills, a cough and sometimes muscle aches and headaches. Other types of pneumonia have similar symptoms. You will probably need a chest x-ray to diagnose the pneumonia. Lab tests can detect the specific bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease.
The bacteria are more likely to make you sick if you
Are older than 65
Smoke
Have a lung disease
Have a weak immune system
Legionnaires' disease is serious and can be life-threatening. However, most people recover with antibiotic treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Definition (MSH)
An acute, sometimes fatal, pneumonia-like bacterial infection characterized by high fever, malaise, muscle aches, respiratory disorders and headache. It is named for an outbreak at the 1976 Philadelphia convention of the American Legion.
Pneumonie à Legionella, Infection à Legionella pneumophila, Pneumonie à Légionelles, Maladie des légionnaires, Infections à Legionella pneumophila, Maladie du légionnaire
German
Legionella pneumophila Infektion, Legionaerskrankheit, Legionellose mit Pneumonie, Pneumonie durch Legionella, Legionella-pneumophila-Infektionen, Legionärskrankheit
Portuguese
Doença do legionário, Infecção por Legionella pneumophila, Pneumonia por Legionella, Pneumonia a legionela, Doença dos Legionários, Infecções por Legionella pneumophila
Spanish
Infección por Legionella pneumophila, Enfermedad de los legionarios, Legionella, Legionnaires disease, Legionnaire's disease, (Legionella) or (Legionnaire's disease), enfermedad de los legionarios (concepto no activo), enfermedad de los legionarios (trastorno), enfermedad de los legionarios, infección por Legionella pneumophila (trastorno), infección por Legionella pneumophila, infección por Legionella pneumophilia, neumonía de los legionarios (trastorno), neumonía de los legionarios, neumonía por Legionella, Neumonía por legionella, Enfermedad de los Legionarios, Infecciones por Legionella pneumophila
gram negative bacterial infection by any species of Legionella including Legionnaire's disease, which is characterized by high fever, malaise, muscle aches, respiratory disorders and headache.