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1 - Introdction
During the summer of 1976, an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown
originoccurredamongtheparticipantsofan“AmericanLegion”conventionin
Philadelphia. The poly-systemic disease (including pneumonia) was called
the
Legionnaires’ Disease
.
In 1977, the etiologic agent was isolated by Dr. JosephMcDade from the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), thus creating a new family of bacteria
called
Legionellaceae
.
The Legionellosis has a high rate of mortality (15 to 25%). Most of the
cases has sporadic appearance, however we can observe the presence in
outbreaks.
2- Clinical Manifestations
Legionellosisis is difficult to diagnose, because the signs and symptoms
are not specific. The initial symptoms include progressive unease, muscle
pains and mild headache. Right on the first day of the disease there are
symptoms of acute drought cough and fever (38.8º to 40ºC). Many patients
present abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms (for example,
nausea, vomit and diarrhea).
Pneumonia is the most frequent form of the disease, followed by the
same symptoms described for the non-pulmonary form, and often with
non-productive cough. The disease shows rapid progression and in the
severe cases, the formation of abscesses suggests Legionellosis.
The bacteremia is common and the involvement of the most various
organs and tissues has already been described.
