Os casos reportados de Legionellose vem crescendo nos últimos anos a níveis bem superiores ao esperado.
Lembramos que os casos de Febre Pontiac não estão relacionadas e sim os casos que requerem internação, ou seja, casos de pneumonia leve ou grave. Não existe ainda um sistema que controla o número de casos de pessoas que contraem a Febre Pontiac (provocada pela Legionella).
Por informações de especialistas, os casos de Febre Pontiac são enormes, pois são confundidas como resfriado, gripe etc....
Nos estamos alertando já a alguns anos sobre o TEMA LEGIONELLA e acreditamos que somente a informação ajuda.
The study is the first to identify a link between Legionnaires' Disease and windscreen fluid
Increasing cases of Legionnaires disease
Pittsburgh : PA : USA | Dec 05, 2011 at 9:12 AM PST
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevent August report indicates cases tripled in the last ten years.
Legionnaires disease a potentially life-threatening pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The number of reported cases are tripled according to the CDC's report which had appeared in the August 19th Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report.
Flare-ups of the disease in New England this year are and unexplained according to health officials.
Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut total cases confirmed have almost doubled since last year and many sharp increases in cases are being seen in northeastern states.
Monday, November 28th, an advisory to all state healthcare providers to look out for and report Legionnaires cases. Currently, 18 cases have been reported.
Legionnaires disease is caused by the inhaling of an infectious dose of Legionella bacteria most of the times found in contaminated water sources such as whirlpool spas, showers, cooling towers and faucets.
Legionnaires disease acquired its name from the 1976 outbreak at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia. This disease kills five to thirty percent of patients, between 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized each year.
Legionnaires had come on strong in Massachusetts with 211 confirmed cases of the disease as November 23 upping the number of cases by 118 higher than 2010. Connecticut had seen 72 cases in comparison to the 47 last year.
This year New York 526 cases with Pennsylvania at 450 cases.
In July, outbreak of this disease was seen at the posh 4,000 room Aria Resort and Casino on the Vegas strip.
Other reported outbreaks have included Hamilton, Ontario four cases, a hotel in Ocean City, Maryland in September had three guests infected with the disease. Two nursing homes in Pittsburgh had a total of ten cases confirmed in September, three cases were hospitalized and no deaths had been reported.
Three residents of a Cleveland nursing and rehab facility had been hospitalized in June with the disease. HC info has cases listed which go as far back 1997.
With the growing population of older adults and other individuals who are more susceptible to the infection are more than likely to be part of the reason for the rising increase and most cases are not associated to foreign travel.
Outbreaks of Legionnaires disease is receiving the most attention by the media especially after 200 guests had fallen ill after attending a Playboy mansion party with at least four guests contracting the disease.
According to the Mayo Clinic Legionnaires disease usually develops within two to fourteen days after being exposed. Most of the times it starts with headache, muscle pain, chills and fever that maybe 104 or higher.
On the second or third day development of other signs and symptoms may include:
Cough that may bring up mucus or blood
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and nausea
Confusions or mental changes
Legionnaires disease usually affects the lungs however, it can on occasion cause an infection in wounds and other parts in the body which includes the heart.
Pontiac fever is a mild form of Legionnaires disease which could produce symptoms that include chills, headache, fever and muscle ache. This fever does not affect the lungs and symptoms usually diminish within two to five days.
If you believe you have had exposure to legionella bacteria see your healthcare practitioner. Mention any trips you have taken in the last two weeks and where you did stay. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of the disease can less the recovery time and prevent serious complications. If you are at high risk immediate attention is needed.
High risk category includes those people with a lower resistance to the disease. Some of the factors which could increase the risk include:
Organ transplants
Aged 45 or older
Heavy smoking
Weakened immune system
Underlying medical problems such as diabetes, cancer, respiratory disease
Certain drug therapies such as corticosteroids
Heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages
Besides being infected by inhaled microscopic water droplets containing the bacteria which could come from the shower spray, whirlpool, faucets, water dispersed through the ventilation system in large buildings other associated sources have included:
Hot tubs and whirlpools on cruise ships
Cooling towers in air conditioning systems
Swimming pools and Decorative fountains
Physical therapy equipment
Water systems in hotels, nursing homes and hospitals
This disease is not transmitted from person to person.