Symptoms of the disease appear 2 - 10 days following infection. Initial symptoms are similar to influenza - loss of appetite, tiredness, body aches and headache. Chills and a rapidly rising fever are usually apparent within 24 hours. Pneumonia develops and kidney function may be affected. Diagnosis of the disease requires identification of the bacteria in the sputum and corresponding antigen levels in the blood or urine.
Physicians treat the disease with a prescribed antibiotic regimen.
The Legionella bacterium causing this disease is commonly found in the environment in creeks, ponds and soil at excavation sites. It has also occasionally been isolated in drinking water, hot water tanks, cooling towers and evaporative condensers. Because the organism is so common in the environment, testing for its presence is almost always limited to situations where outbreaks are suspected. Outbreaks have occurred after people have inhaled mists from cooling towers, whirlpool spas and showers. The University of Maryland recognizes the devastating effects that can be caused by Legionella pneumophila .