Disease, Legionnaire: A disease due to the bacteria Legionella pneumophila found in plumbing, shower heads and water-storage tanks. Outbreaks of Legionella pneumonia have been attributed to evaporative condensers and cooling towers. The bacteria thrives in the mist sprayed from air-conditioning ducts and so it can infest an entire building or airplane. Travelers are especially vulnerable in the closed space within a plane.
Legionnaire disease can cause a massive pneumonia associated with collapse of the respiratory function. It can be an overwhelming and sometimes fatal illness.
The disease was first identified as a sequel of the 1976 convention of the American Legion in some of those who had attended the convention. It was therefore named Legionnaire disease.
The distinguished surgeon/writer Richard Selzer has recounted his own near-fatal experience with Legionnaire disease in "Raising the Dead. A Doctor's Encounter with His Own Mortality" (Whittle/Viking, New York, 1993).
Home > Patient Facts Patient Facts: Learn More about Legionnaires' disease . What is Legionnaires' disease? Legionnaires' disease (LEE-juh-nares) is caused by a ...
Legionnaires' disease — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes and treatment of this infectious disease.
Legionnaires' disease is a common name for one of the several illnesses caused by Legionnaires' disease bacteria (LDB). Legionnaires' disease is an infection of the ...
A fatal outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the south Wales valleys may have been caused by "very unusual climatic conditions," officials say. An 85-year-old man and ...
Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria. You usually get it by breathing in mist from water that contains the bacteria. The mist may come from ...