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Legionnaires’ Disease
Summary
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 high 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.
Most people exposed to the bacteria do not become sick. You are more likely to get sick if you:
- Are older than 50
- Smoke
- Have a chronic 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
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Learn More
- CDC Vital Signs: Legionnaires’ Disease Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- How the Lungs Work National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever) Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever): Causes, How it Spreads, and People at Increased Risk Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever): Diagnosis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever): Fast Facts Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever): History and Disease Patterns Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever): Signs and Symptoms Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Legionella Tests National Library of Medicine
- Legionnaires’ Disease Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Sputum direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test Medical Encyclopedia
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Legionnaires’ Disease National Institutes of Health
Patient Handouts
- Legionnaire disease Medical Encyclopedia
Statistics and Research
- Legionnaires’ Disease: a Problem for Health Care Facilities Centers for Disease Control and Prevention