Legionnaires' Disease Fact Sheet
PDF Version of this Fact Sheet
What is Legionnaires' disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia (lung
infection) caused by Legionella
bacteria.
Common Source of Infection
Legionella can be found naturally in freshwater environments (like lakes and
streams), but generally only becomes a health concern when it grows and spreads
in manmade plumbing structures (e.g., cooling towers, hot tubs, building water
systems).
Transmission
The Legionella bacterium is spread by the release of small droplets of
contaminated water into the air from air conditioning cooling towers, showers,
misters, humidifiers, etc. To cause illness, infected water droplets must be
inhaled (breathed in) by a susceptible person. Generally, the disease is not
spread from person to person.
Signs & Symptoms
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Confusion
Risk Factors
Most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick. People at increased risk of getting sick are:
· People 50
years or older
· Current or
former smokers
· People with
cancer or underlying illnesses such as chronic lung disease (like COPD or
emphysema), diabetes, liver disease, or kidney disease
· People with weak
immune systems or who take drugs that weaken the immune system (like after a
transplant operation or chemotherapy)
Treatment
Legionnaires’ disease is treated with commonly
available antibiotics.
If you think that you might have Legionnaires' disease, contact your primary care provider immediately.