Legionnaires

Legionnaires refer to a kind of pneumonia disease, often caused by bacteria through breathing in mist from water containing the bacteria. The mist might appear from showers, hot tubs or air-conditioning units meant for large buildings. The bacteria itself is not communicable or spreads from one person to another. Most common symptoms to Legionnaires include chills, cough, fever and occasionally, headaches and muscle aches. In fact, other forms of pneumonia also have similar symptoms, for which a chest X-ray is required to detect the disease. Laboratory tests diagnose the particular bacteria causing legionnaires. If a person has a lung disease, a weak immune system, a smoking habit or is older than 65, the bacteria is likely to make him/her sick.