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- Services and providers for Legionnaires' Disease in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Legionnaires' Disease is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Legionnaires' Disease
Also called: Legionellosis
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 hot tubs, showers or air-conditioning units for large buildings. The bacteria don't spread from person to person.
Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include fever, chills, a cough and sometimes muscle aches and headaches. Other types of pneumonia have similar symptoms. You will probably need a chest x-ray to diagnose the pneumonia. Lab tests can detect the specific bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease.
The bacteria are more likely to make you sick if you
- Are older than 65
- Smoke
- Have a lung disease
- Have a weak immune system
Legionnaires' disease is serious and can be life-threatening. However, most people recover with antibiotic treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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- Legionellosis: Legionnaires' Disease (LD) and Pontiac Fever(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Legionnaires' Disease
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Legionnaires' Disease
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- National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases, Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Date last updated: 06 May 2008 Topic last reviewed: 28 November 2007 |