Did you know that Legionella causes more than 25,000 hospitalizations and nearly 4,000 deaths annually in North America among the most vulnerable members of our society? Health authorities consider this problem to be an important public health issue. According to the regulations in place in many industrialized countries, cooling tower owners are required to test for the presence of these bacteria and to take action according to the concentrations obtained; this can even lead to the closure of the equipment, the building evacuation and the closing of commercial or industrial operations. In unregulated markets, industry standards strongly recommend such testing as part of the “Standard of Care”, the step that usually precedes regulation.
LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE SYMPTOMS DEVELOP 2 TO 14 DAYS AFTER LEGIONELLA EXPOSURE
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- Cough, which can bring up mucus
and sometimes blood - Chest pain
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Mental confusion
- Infection of the lungs
- Can cause infections in wounds and to the heart
PONTIAC FEVER SYMPTOMS
IS A MILD FORM OF LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE SYMPTOMS
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- Chills
- DOES NOT affect the lungs
- Symptoms clear typically within two to five days
WHEN TO CONSULT A DOCTOR?
Both disease symptoms resemble those of a pneumonia infection and look the same on an X-ray. Do not hesitate to consult medical help if you think you’ve been exposed to Legionella, and inform your doctor. The sooner the diagnosis and treatment for legionnaires’ disease are confirmed, the sooner will be the recovery period while preventing life-threatening complications such as respiratory failure, septic shock, acute kidney failure and multi-organ failure.
Most people that recover from the disease will suffer long-term side effects. The most common are fatigue and lack of energy. Other side effects may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), memory loss, and difficulty concentrating.
