{"id":6108,"date":"2019-05-08T01:52:31","date_gmt":"2019-05-08T01:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=6108"},"modified":"2021-06-05T03:18:13","modified_gmt":"2021-06-05T03:18:13","slug":"14-most-common-symptoms-of-legionnaires-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-most-common-symptoms-of-legionnaires-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Most Common Symptoms of Legionnaires Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Legionnaires disease is an infection of the lungs that is caused by bacteria. The most common way for a person to be infected by this bacteria is through water that has been contaminated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The water enters in through the nose and the bacteria then spreads throughout the body. Fortunately, Legionnaire’s disease can be easily treated with antibiotics if it is caught early. However, if it is left untreated it can become quite serious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to make sure that you seek medical attention if you suspect that you have been infected by the legionnaire’s bacteria. There are several symptoms that you should look out for so that you can get treatment quickly and avoid some of the more serious issues that may result from leaving the bacteria untreated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 of the most common symptoms of legionnaires disease to be aware of so that you know when you need to see a doctor.
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1.Cough<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coughing <\/a>is another symptom that is common with legionnaire’s disease. Unfortunately, a cough is another symptom that is fairly vague and it can be the symptom of many different other bacterial and viral infections as well. Most people do not think about seeing a doctor if they have a cough. The cough caused by the legionnaire’s bacteria comes from the fact that the bacteria mostly cause issues within the lungs. The cough caused by the bacteria is often quite dry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a wet cough may also occur in some cases. Medical attention may be necessary depending on the severity of the cough. If you have started experiencing a cough and you have some of the other symptoms on this list it is important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are often in public places such as offices or hospitals you may have a higher risk of being infected by a legionnaire outbreak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. High Fever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Running a fever <\/a>is a symptom of many different types of illnesses. A fever is the body\u2019s first line of defense against infection. If you have been infected with the legionnaire’s bacteria you may develop a fever. The fever is a result of an increase in the body\u2019s temperature as a way to help kill off the infection or bacteria. Typically, this symptom is not very serious unless it reaches above 102 or higher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a person is infected with the bacteria that causes legionnaires disease, the incubation period before symptoms appear is anywhere from two days to ten days. In some cases, it may take up to two weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to treat the fever you will want to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water and monitoring your temperature. If your fever does not go away or becomes really high, make sure that you go to your doctor right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Chills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another symptom that may come along when running a fever chills. Chills refer to a feeling of coldness that results in shivering. Chills <\/a>indicate that the temperature of the body is changing. When the temperature of the body starts to increase, you may start to feel cold. The muscles may start to contract and this causes chills. It can help to bundle up in some blankets. Warm water may help you to start to feel better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of illnesses that may occur as a result of the legionnaire’s bacteria. One is a full-blown legionnaires disease. The other illness that the person may experience is Pontiac fever. If you notice that you have any of the symptoms on this list it is important to make sure that you contact your doctor right away so that you can get started with a treatment plan. The faster that treatment is started, the more likely you are to not have any lasting side effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Headaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A headache<\/a> can be a symptom of many different ailments. At times a headache is simply caused by extra pressure in the brain and it will go away in a short amount of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, one of the most common ways of being infected by legionella is through droplets of water. The contamination often occurs in public areas such as hotels, hospitals, and other large buildings. Drinking the water does not cause an infection. Instead, it is caused when water droplets enter the body in other ways. After being infected symptoms will often appear in a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the very first symptoms is a headache. This is mild at the beginning stages. However, the headache will become more severe over time. For those who receive treatment early the prognosis is quite good. If the disease is left untreated Legionnaires disease can prove to be fatal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Soreness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have been infected with the legionnaire’s bacteria the main symptom that you may experience is a feeling of soreness. This soreness <\/a>is especially prevalent in the muscles. The pain or discomfort is most often felt throughout the joints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mild headache will often accompany this pain in the muscles. The headache and the soreness in the muscles are often the first signs of the infection. This is often followed by some of the other symptoms on this list. When a fever develops the muscle pain can start to get worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to help with the muscle pain, a warm compress held on the area that is affected may help. Make sure that you ask your doctor if you can take any over the counter medications for muscle pain and headache. It is important to discuss all medication with your doctor because some medications can actually make things worse and not better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Chest Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common symptom of this disease is chest pain. Once again, the bacteria cause an infection in the lungs. When the lungs are infected it can cause a person to experience pain in the chest. Not all people who are infected with legionnaires disease<\/a> will experience this symptom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in more complicated cases this is a fairly common symptom. Chest pain will appear as a discomfort in the chest area, close to wear the lungs are located. The pain may extend all the way through the rib cage. If the Legionnaires disease is left untreated it can cause complications that are life-threatening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the complications that can be caused by this disease include kidney or respiratory failure. This is why it is vital that you seek medical attention if you are experiencing any of these symptoms because this disease can become dangerous quite quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fatigue <\/a>refers to feelings of extreme sleepiness and tiredness. This happens when the body is fighting off an infection because it is using up more energy than usual in order to help combat the infection. As a result, you will feel extremely tired. This is your body telling you that you need to rest so that it can do what it needs to do in order to heal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fatigue may or may not go away when you rest and feeling extremely fatigued can be persistent throughout the entire time that your body is infected. You should talk to your doctor about some of the treatment options that are available and ask about how you can combat the fatigue that you are experiencing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are at a high-risk group for developing legionnaires disease it is important to get your treatment plan in place right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Nausea and Vomiting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to symptoms of an infection, nausea<\/a>, and vomiting are quite common. In fact, nausea and vomiting can be caused by any number of bacteria or viruses. Some people who are infected with the legionnaire’s bacteria may have digestive symptoms as well. This may be caused by running a high fever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a fever-reducing medication can help to bring the fever down and may help with the feelings of nausea. If you are feeling nauseous and\/or vomiting, it is important to make sure that you try to drink as much fluid as possible in order to stay hydrated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try sticking to a diet of bananas, applesauce, rice, and toast and avoid any dairy or foods that are high in acid. Staying hydrated when you are ill is very important as dehydration can lead to numerous health risks, some of which can be quite detrimental. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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