What Do You Need To Know About Legionnaires’ Disease?
Legionella bacteria is the cause of severe pneumonia, known as Legionnaires’ Disease. This bacterium is generally found in the sources of freshwater. However, it can also grow and multiply in man-made water systems, which are not maintained property. These bacteria can also grow easily in spas, air conditioning systems of large buildings, hot tanks, water fountains, and other water sources. People who come in contact with droplets of aerosols of water having sufficient accumulation of Legionella can get sick and may need treatment. Below mentioned are further details about this disease.
Who Needs To Worry About Getting This Disease?
Younger and healthy people usually have a very low probability of getting sick even after getting in contact with Legionella. However, older people along with people suffering from chronic diseases can be at great risk of this disease. Therefore, if you have any person in your family above the age of 50, any person with a history of lung disease, diabetes, cancer, or kidney-related issues can be at great risk of getting sick due to this bacterium. Therefore, Legionella risk assessment becomes very important for you. Below mentioned are further details that might help you reduce the risk of developing Legionella in your water sources.
What Are The Symptoms Of Legionnaires’ Disease?
If you or any other of your loved ones get affected by this disease, it becomes very crucial to detect the same at an early stage to prevent any kind of complications. Also, this disease is not transmittable from one person to another, therefore, you can freely care for your loved ones if they get infected anyhow. Below mentioned are some of the most common symptoms that are seen in people who get affected by this disease.
- Shortness Of Breath
- Frequent Coughing
- High Fever
- Body Aches
If all of the above symptoms are spotted, the person must be rushed to a doctor for assessment and treatment of the same. Thereafter, the very next step for you must be Legionella risk assessment at your home and its surrounding water sources so that anyone else does not get affected with the same.
Tips To Prevent Legionella Development:
The most crucial aspect to checking the growth and multiplication of Legionella is to keep your water supply effectively maintained. You should get your complete water system inspected on a regular basis and get even the minutest of the stagnation repaired. You can also consider getting your systems disinfected at regular intervals so that it further narrows down the chances of the development of Legionella. Apart from your home water supply system, if you have any kind of water features in or around your vicinity, it is very important for them to be maintained and disinfected on a regular basis.
By this way you may get the best knowledge about Legionnaires’ Disease.
