Legionnaire's Disease

Also known as:  Legionellosis

Legionnaire’s Disease is an acute Bacterial Disease.  It cannot be transmitted from person to person.  The incubation period for Legionnaire’s Disease is two to ten days.

 Legionnaires' Disease accounts for 1% to 8% of community-acquired Pneumonias that result in hospitalization and about 4% of lethal nosocomial Pneumonias.

 Most cases of Legionnaire’s Disease occur during the late summer and early fall (autumn).

 Although Legionnaire’s Disease can occur at any age, most patients are middle-aged males.

Legionnaire’s Disease is fatal (even with appropriate treatment) in approximately 15% of community-acquired cases and is higher in persons with suppressed Immune Systems and hospitalized patients.  Elderly persons have a higher death rate from Legionnaire’s Disease compared with younger persons.

The initial symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease resemble those of Influenza.

Digestive System

 Diarrhea may occur as one of the symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease.

 Nausea may occur as one of the symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease.

 Vomiting may occur as one of the symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease.