Legionellosis also known as legionnaires’ disease or legion fever

1. Legionellosis also known as legionnaires’ disease or legion fever By Brendan Purcell

2. The cause • Legionella bacteria is commonly found in bodies of warm water, soil and potting mix you would get legionnaires disease by breathing in legionella bacteria in very fine droplets of water called aerosols.

3. The type • Legionella is a bacterial disease

4. People who commonly suffers from it • People of any age can suffer from this disease but it is more commonly found in middle-aged to older people • Particularly those who smoke or have a chronic lung disease • Two years ago there was an outbreak in Thailand and the government stopped commercial flights because of that.

5. Signs and Symptoms • People with Legionellosis usually have fever, chills, and a cough, which may be dry or may produce mucus. Some patients also have muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, loss of coordination, and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting. The time between the patient's contact to the bacterium and the commencement of illness for Legionellosis is 2 to 10 days.

6. Treatment • The antibiotics used most have been levofloxacin and azithromycin. And yes it can be cured

7. Other interesting info • They can be found in cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, or parts of the air-conditioning systems • Legionella bacteria themselves can be inactivated by UV light. However, Legionella bacteria that grow and reproduce in amoebae or that are sheltered in corrosion particles cannot be killed by UV light alone

8. Bibliography • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionellosis • http://www.gatesit.com.au/legion/Legionnaires_Disease_Unusual_Cases.htm • http://www.google.com.au/