Medical Definition of Legionnaire's disease
1.
An acute bacterial respiratory illness caused by the gram-negative bacterium Legionella pneumophila, a member of the family Legionellaceae.
The illness results in a serious pneumonia and begins with flu-like symptoms, then moves on to high fever, shaking chills, headaches, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and pleurisy. I can be fatal.
The disease is highly contagious. The bacteria which causes this disease is only harmful when tiny droplets of water floating in the air containing the bacteria are inhaled, and does not cause harm when it is present in drinking water.
The bacteria has been found in water systems and can survive in the air conditioning systems of large buildings. Risk factors for infection include smoking, COPD, renal failure, cancer, diabetes and alcoholism.
(09 Oct 1997)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Legionnaire's Disease
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