Legionnaires’ disease in Plainfield
Edward Hospital identifies about two to three cases of Legionnaires’ disease in a given year, and they’ve had three in the last month. Fortunately, Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from person-to-person contact. The disease can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms are like many other forms of pneumonia.
Signs of the disease can include:
- High fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Some people may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches.
Chest X-rays are needed to find the pneumonia caused by the bacteria, and other tests can be done on sputum (phlegm), as well as blood or urine to find evidence of the bacteria in the body. Symptoms usually begin 2 to 14 days after being exposed to the bacteria.
Legionnaires’ disease can be very serious and can cause death in up to 5% to 30% of cases. Most cases can be treated successfully with antibiotics [drugs that kill bacteria in the body], and healthy people usually recover from infection.
Find more information about Legionnaires’ disease at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For information about the case in Plainfield, visit the Naperville Sun.
