Legionnaires' Disease: What Are The Symptoms?

Legionnaires' disease cannot be transmitted from person to person; instead, it is acquired by breathing droplets of contaminated water (this might happen in a shower, via the air conditioning, a spa pool, or any other kind of outlet that gives off an aerosol). It cannot, however, be contracted by drinking contaminated water. Legionnaires' disease is a kind of pneumonia that is potentially deadly.

Because legionnaires' disease is so deadly, it is critical that a professional conduct a risk assessment to ensure that any issue areas inside buildings are identified and addressed. This will assist to minimise the risks of anybody inside the building getting legionnaires' disease, whether they are an employee, student, contractor, member of the public, patient, or anyone else.

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However, because not all buildings have a risk assessment, and not all risk assessments are followed, it is critical to be aware of the symptoms of legionnaires' disease in case someone you work with, for, or employ contracts it, especially since prompt treatment is critical, and deaths occur in 10 to 15 percent of all cases.

The following are the primary symptoms:

• Coughing that lasts a long time

• Severe chest pain

• Breathing difficulties

• Headache

• Muscle ache/pain inside muscles

• Extremely hot

• Fatigue

• You're feeling shaky

• Diarrhoea

• Flu-like symptoms

• Confusion in the mind

Remember that signs of legionnaires' illness may not always show as quickly as you are exposed to the bacteria, therefore it might be several days before symptoms occur. By this point, it may be difficult to identify where the illness was acquired, which may lead to a significant health crisis — if the sickness cannot be traced back to a source, many more individuals may be exposed while an inquiry is conducted.

Please contact Assured Water Hygiene to have a professional do a risk assessment in your building and to discuss your next actions. We have many years of expertise and can assist you in ensuring that your facility and its occupants are as safe against legionella bacteria as possible.