From “polluting” air conditioners.. What is Legionnaires’ disease? How does it spread?

Five cases of Legionnaires’ disease, diagnosed in the US state of New Hampshire, brought the disease back into the spotlight, raising questions about its symptoms, how it spreads, and the extent of its risk to patients , according to the newspaper “The Washington Post“American.

Health officials in New Hampshire confirmed in a statement Monday that five people were infected with Legionnaires’ disease, noting that the infected people may have been exposed to contaminated water droplets from one of the air conditioning towers. .

According to the website “Mayo ClinicMedically, Legionnaires’ disease, or Legionnaires’ disease, is “one of the most severe forms of pneumonia,” and most patients are infected by ingesting the bacteria “Legionella ” which affects the elderly, smokers and people with weakened immune systems.

And he agreed World Health OrganizationLegionella bacteria were first discovered when a mysterious disease affected dozens of conference attendees in Philadelphia, United States, in 1976. 221 people were infected, of whom 34 died from the disease.

At the time, the disease raised concern among health officials, who feared it would spread beyond conference attendees. Finally, scientists found bacteria in the water of the air conditioning tower at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel, where the conference was being held.

The American newspaper “Washington Post” quoted William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, as saying, “The virus spreads through contaminated air conditioners, hot tubs, water fountains, and the like. “

Legionella bacteria can grow in tanks containing car windshield fluid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms of Legionella bacteria begin to appear on the patient two to 10 days after infection, and they can be similar to flu symptoms.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, symptoms can include headache, muscle pain, fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

These bacteria usually affect the lungs, but they may spread to the heart, and can cause life-threatening problems such as respiratory failure, shock with a sharp and sudden drop in blood pressure , or even acute kidney failure, which means dangerous accumulation. levels of toxins in the body.

This disease is usually dangerous for people who suffer from problems in the immune system, and the death rate among them could rise to 80 percent, especially if they do not receive adequate medical care.

According to experts, there are no vaccines to prevent Legionella bacteria, but there are medications to help those who are infected.

The World Health Organization points out that an infection with this bacterium itself does not require medical intervention unless it reaches the lungs, as patients need to be treated with antibiotics.

The group calls for plans to be developed by various authorities to ensure the safety of water networks and buildings through periodic cleaning and disinfection, and to take measures to monitor and combat bacteria therefore.

Chlorine products can also be used in Jacuzzi tubs, water heating to over 60 degrees Celsius, and maintenance of cooling and heating installations, especially in health care settings and elderly facilities.