Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionella bacteria cause Legionnaires’ disease. Symptoms can range from a bad cold to the flu with pneumonia and a high fever.
Legionella bacteria can only pose a danger under certain circumstances. For example, these bacteria find water with a temperature between 25 and 50 degrees Celsius very pleasant. From 20 degrees Celsius they start to grow and multiply. For this, the bacteria need mucus layers on the inside of pipes. This occurs in prolonged standing water.
Infection
Contamination is only possible if very small contaminated water droplets (aerosols) are released and inhaled. This is the case, for example, when showering, in whirlpools, swimming pools, air conditioning and cooling towers. These installations must therefore always be properly checked. You cannot get infected by drinking contaminated water or through someone else.
If the temperature of the shower water in your home water heater is set to at least 60 °C, the bacteria will be killed. So you can shower safely. If you have any doubts about your water system, you can flush the shower with only hot water for a few minutes. You can do this, for example, when you have been on holiday for a long time. The water then stood still for a while. When doing this, hold the shower head near the drain so that you cannot inhale water droplets. The pipes are then clean again.
Symptoms
There are two ways in which a legionella infection can manifest itself.
- Legionella flu. For two to five days you will have symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches and cough. The disease is not dangerous in this form and complaints can go away on their own.
- Veterans disease. This is a more serious form of legionella infection. The time between infection and the first symptoms (incubation period) is between two to ten days. Headaches, muscle aches, pneumonia and fever above 39°C are the symptoms. Some patients also experience vomiting and diarrhea.
Who are extra sensitive?
People with poorer immune systems are more likely to get sick. These are, for example, the elderly and heavy smokers. But people who use medicines that reduce their defenses (such as with HIV infection) can also get sick. Legionnaires’ disease can have very serious consequences for them. But with the right antibiotics, the disease can be treated well, although this can take a long time.