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Ency. home > Disease > L > Legionnaire's disease

Legionnaire's disease

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Legionella pneumonia; Pontiac fever

Symptoms

Muscle aches and stiffness

Joint pain

Loss of energy

General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)

Headache

Fever

Shaking chills

Nonproductive cough

Coughing of blood

Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Diarrhea

Ataxia (lack of coordination)

Signs and Tests

Listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation) reveals fine crackles.
Sputum DFA (direct fluorescent antibody) staining shows Legionella.
The causative organism may be cultured from the airway.
Urine tests for the bacteria (urine antigen test) may be positive.
Chest X-ray shows pneumonia.
Arterial blood gas analysis may show low concentrations of oxygen.
CBC shows an increased white blood cell count.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is increased.
Low serum sodium
Liver function tests may show moderate elevation.

Ency. home > Disease > L > Legionnaire's disease

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