LEGGIONAIRES DISEASE

Charlotte Wightman10 Science1/6/12

WHAT IS LEGGIONARES?

• Proper name - ‘Legionellosis’

• Form of Pneumonia

• Caused by the bacteria ‘Legionella’

• Fatalities occur in over 10% of cases

WHAT IS IT CAUSED BY?

• Bacteria called ‘Legionella’

• Found in warm environments such as:

• Warm water systems: showers, spas, pools ect.

• Soil or potting mix

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?• Take between 2 – 10 days

until symptoms begin

• Flu-like symptoms include:

• Temperature

• Headaches and joint pains

• Dry cough

• Lack of breath

HOW IS IT CONTRACTED?• Cannot be caught by another

person or

• Contracted by the following:

• Breathing in bacteria in the from of droplets – ‘aerosols’

• Air-cooling systems

• Through showers, spas, pools ect.

WHO IS AT RISK?

• Increases with age

• People with medical conditions – e.g. Cancer – have an increased chance

• Children rarely carry the disease

TREATMENT?

• Treatment takes place mainly in hospital in ICU

• Antibiotics

• Earlier treatment = better outcome

PREVENTION?

• No vaccine available yet

• Smokers quit smoking = minimal chance of contracting disease

• Gardeners = wear protective gear – e.g. gloves

QUESTIONS• 1. Lifestyle factors implementing the disease include

• Isolation• Long recovery period

• 2. Increased rates of the disease, especially as there is no known cure or vaccination for the disease

• 3. Are not many definite locations of disease, as warm environments – where the bacteria lives – are world-wide

BIBLIOGRAPHY• INFECTIOUS DISEASES: • http://ideas.health.vic.gov.au/diseases/legionnaires-disease-facts.asp• (All information is from here – it’s a good site)• 25/5/12

• IMAGES:• http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/phil/images/5156.jpg• http://www.drlisawatson.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/migraine1.jpg• https://cedarparkkiddoc.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/pink-pills.jpg• https://cedarparkkiddoc.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/pink-pills.jpg• http://janinemudge.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/nitrile-glove-at-gardeners-suppl

y1.jpg

• http://stopsmokinglobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/stop4.jpg• 25/5/12