Legionellosis natural history, complications and prognosis
|
Legionellosis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Legionellosis natural history, complications and prognosis On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Legionellosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
FDA on Legionellosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
CDC on Legionellosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
Legionellosis natural history, complications and prognosis in the news |
|
Blogs on Legionellosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Legionellosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
The fatality rate of Legionnaires' disease has ranged from 5 to 30% during various outbreaks. It should be noted that some people can be infected with the Legionella bacterium and have only mild symptoms or no illness at all.
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]