Legionnaires’ Disease Guide: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Water currently covers over 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think every country has a water supply. However, the water we use to drink, bathe in and water crops is rare. We can only use 3% of the world’s freshwater, as two-thirds of it is frozen in glaciers or otherwise unavailable.
Water is essential for every living being. Regularly drinking water helps to keep your body functioning and healthy, and has many advantages that include:
- Carries nutrients and oxygen to cells
- Regulates body temperature
- Protects organs
- Moistens the eyes, mouth and nose
- Lubricates joints
- Dissolves minerals and nutrients to make them accessible to your body
Research has shown that drinking 6 – 8 cups of water a day is enough to keep your body healthy. This can include tea, coffee and sugar-free drinks. However, not drinking water regularly can have negative effects on your health.
Effects of Not Drinking Enough Water
Persistent Headaches
Persistent headaches can be one symptom of dehydration, caused by inadequate water intake. However, headaches can have many different causes and should be considered alongside other signs of dehydration.
Dry Mouth
Another common indicator of dehydration is ‘dry mouth’. In simple terms, if you are not hydrated enough, your body can’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist, resulting in a dry mouth and throat. This can make it difficult to talk, swallow and breathe and can cause bad breath.
Lower Energy Levels
When you are dehydrated, it is common for your energy levels to be lower. Drinking water helps to improve your health and keep your mind alert during the day.
Increased Stroke Risk
According to a study by BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, being dehydrated often can increase the risk of a stroke.
Waterborne Diseases
Drinking unsafe water can lead to many illnesses, including diarrhoea and Legionnaires’ disease. It can also lead to pollution of groundwater with chemicals that are unsuitable for human consumption or bathing.
Moreover, almost 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water resources, and around 2.7 billion people have water shortages once a month.
Insufficient sanitation is a problem for 2.4 billion people, as they are exposed to diseases, such as Legionnaires’, cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne illnesses. Each year, two million people, mostly children, die from diarrhoeal diseases alone.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious respiratory infection caused by Legionella bacteria found in poorly maintained water systems. Understanding Legionaires’ disease symptoms, how Legionella is spread and what to do if Legionella is detected is essential for maintaining safe water systems and protecting building occupants.
What is Legionnaires’ Disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition, which is caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria.
Legionella bacteria are found in natural water systems like ponds and rivers, although it is difficult for people to catch this disease from these sources. Legionella is typically only hazardous to humans when it becomes airborne, such as through spray and aerosols created by showers, taps and other water outlets.
The outbreak of this disease is often linked to poor water hygiene control in building water systems. These systems include cooling towers, spa pools and evaporative condensers.
Legionella Symptoms
Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia, and can present with a range of symptoms.
Persistent Cough
One of the most common symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease is a cough. This typically starts dry and begins to produce mucus before worsening and becoming painful.
High Temperature and Fever
An early symptom of Legionnaires’ disease is a fever. It usually develops rapidly and is accompanied by chills and sweating.
Shortness of Breath
Legionnaires’ disease causes inflammation in the lungs, which can make breathing more difficult. People with the disease may become short of breath during everyday activities.
Muscle Aches and Fatigue
During the early stages of the infection, Legionnaires’ disease can cause muscle aches and general fatigue. This is similar to the symptoms of a common flu.
Headaches and Confusion
Headaches are usually one of the first symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, and can worsen as the infection develops. Confusion and an altered mental state can also occur, and are considered more severe symptoms requiring immediate medical attention.
How is Legionella Spread?
- Inhaling small droplets of water known as aerosols
- The water temperature in the water system may be between 20 to 45 °C, which is a temperature appropriate for growth
- Water is being re-circulated or stored
- Some deposits can provide a source of nutrients for the bacteria to grow, like rust, sludge, scale, organic matter and biofilms
However, some people are more susceptible to contracting Legionnaires’ disease than others:
- People suffering from lung disease, heart disease and diabetes
- Those with kidney disease or chronic respiratory conditions
- People who have weaker immune systems
- Heavy drinkers or smokers
- People over forty-five
Where there are poor water hygiene services and no water risk assessments, bacteria will continue to grow in water systems. Therefore, it is vital for building dutyholders to have regular water risk assessments.
Professional water hygiene service providers can conduct these tasks, and complete water risk assessments, to ensure the safety of water within building systems.
What to Do if Legionella is Detected
If Legionella is detected within your building’s water system, the system will need to be treated and cleaned. The presence of Legionella bacteria also demonstrates a failure in your Legionella control scheme. As a result, a new risk assessment will need to be conducted and the control scheme will need to be updated.
The new control scheme may require more frequent testing, dosing or alterations to your water system.
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