Legionellosis natural history, complications and prognosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Natural History
- In Legionnaires' disease the symptoms usually begin 2 to 14 days after being exposed to the bacteria. They tend to get worse during the first 4 - 6 days. They typically improve in another 4 - 5 days.
- The time between the patient’s exposure to the bacterium and the onset of illness for Pontiac Fever is shorter, generally a few hours to 2 days. The symptoms usually last for 2 to 5 days. Symptoms go away on their own without treatment and without causing further problems.
Complications
Complications that can develop as a result of Legionellosis:
- Empyema
- Emphysema
- Lung failure
- Brain failure
- Renal failure
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Multiorgan failure
- Death
Prognosis
- Death occurs in 5% - 30% of Legionnaires' disease cases: a substantially higher proportion of fatal cases occur during nosocomial outbreaks.
- Pontiac fever is a self-limited disease that requires no treatment. Legionnaires' disease can be very serious and can cause death in up to 5% to 30% of cases. Most cases can be treated successfully with antibiotics [drugs that kill bacteria in the body], and healthy people usually recover from infection.
Sources
- CDC Legionellosis [2]