Legionnaires’ disease

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia, and it's caused by Legionella bacteria. You can catch it by breathing in tiny droplets of water from things like hot tubs or air conditioning.

It's uncommon, but it can be very serious.

Legionnaires' disease can cause these symptoms:

• a cough
• shortness of breath
• chest pain or discomfort, particularly when breathing or coughing
• a high temperature (fever)
• flu-like symptoms

• you have severe difficulty breathing, for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
• you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn't going away, and it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
• you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
• you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
• your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey (on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands)

See a doctor urgently if you have symptoms of Legionnaires' disease, such as:

• a cough that's lasted more than 3 weeks
• coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
• chest pain that happens when breathing in or coughing
• feeling short of breath

If you can't reach a doctor, call a doctor or the 16263 health line.

You should tell your doctor where you've been in the last 10 days. This can include a hotel, spa or hospital.

If you're diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease, you may need to stay in hospital. Treatment there may include:

• antibiotics given directly into a vein (intravenous)
• oxygen through a face mask or tubes in your nose
• a machine to help you breathe

Once you start to feel better, you may be able to switch to antibiotic tablets at home. This treatment usually lasts between 1 to 3 weeks.

Most people make a full recovery with Legionnaires' disease, but it may take a few weeks before you feel back to normal.

Legionnaires' disease spreads when you breathe in tiny droplets of water that contain the bacteria causing the infection.

You usually find these bacteria in places like hotels, hospitals or offices, where they have got into the water supply. It's less common for the infection to be passed on at home.

You can get Legionnaires' disease from things like:

• air conditioning systems
• humidifiers
• spa pools and hot tubs
• taps and showers that are not used often

You can't usually get it from:

• drinking water that contains the bacteria
• places like ponds, lakes, or rivers

Legionnaires' disease can't be passed on from person to person.

Legionella bacteria, which cause Legionnaires' disease, can grow in natural or artificial environments that have a water supply.

Another type, called Legionella longbeachae, can also cause the infection. It's less common, and it can grow in potted compost and soil.