Man Dies Because of Legionnaires Disease

After the outbreak in Mebourne, a third person in Victoria has just been confirmed dead because of Legionnaire’s disease.

Anyone with the symptoms of the bacteria who was in the Doncaster area and Westfield Doncaster shopping centre before May 26, has been advised to get tested for the illness.

There have been 40 cases of the disease this year in Victoria, compared with 23 cases for the same period in 2009, in which four people died from the disease.

In Macao last May 27, a resident was confirmed to have the disease. This case in Macao was classified as an “isolated” incident since the resident did not travel outsiede the city 10 days before getting ill, and none of which that made contact with him fell ill.

The Legionnaires’ disease is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria that belongs to the genus Legionella. An approximate of 35 species of Legionella are known to produce the disease.

The disease is also known as Legion Fever. It is a severe form of infection that produces pneumonia. The fatality of the disease has ranged from 5% to 30% during outbreaks. The death rate for patients inside the hospital who develop the disease is close to 50%. The “favorite” of the disease are those who are in middle-age or older.

Legionnaires Disease and Pontiac Fever - Legionella Pneumophila

In 1976 an epidemic of pneumonia followed the Legionnaires' convention in Philadelphia, USA. Legionella pneumophila was identified as the causative agent. Legionnaires' disease, or legionellosis as it is also called, is a disease of significant medical and public interest. In the USA between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease. However the number of infections may be even higher because many infections are not diagnosed or reported.

Legionnaires' disease has symptoms similar to other forms of pneumonia, and for this reason it can be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms include a fever, chills, and a cough. There may also be muscle aches and headaches. Chest X-rays are required to identify the pneumonia and microbiological tests can be performed on sputum, blood or urine to find evidence of the bacterium. Symptoms usually occur 2 to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria.

A milder infection caused by the same type of Legionella bacteria is called Pontiac Fever. In this disease the symptoms last for 2 to 5 days and include fever, headaches, and muscle aches but not pneumonia.

Legionnaires' disease can be very serious and can cause death in up to 30% of cases. Normally however cases are treated successfully with antibiotics and a full recovery is made. Legionella is found naturally in the environment normally in aquatic habitats where it can survive and multiply within different protozoa. This ability enables the bacterium to be transmissible and pathogenic to humans. Legionella grosw best in warm water, for example in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, or parts of the air-conditioning systems of large buildings. Legionella infection is caused by breathing in a mist or vapor that contains the Legionella bacteria. Those most at risk include older people, smokers, patients with a chronic lung disease or who have a weak immune system, those suffering from other diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or kidney failure, and immunocompromised people.

Scientists using modern molecular biology techniques are investigating the mechanisms used by L. pneumophila to grow in protozoa and in lung macrophages. The genome sequences of four L. pneumophila strains are being studied and evaluated. Research is also being conducted in the areas of clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and epidemiology. In the research laboratory Legionella is used as a model system to analyse the mechanisms by which bacteria live within macrophages and the lung.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1515154

Legionnaires' Disease - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium known as legionella. Common symptoms include high fever, chills, body pain, cough, hemoptysis, breathlessness, chest pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion and other mental illnesses. This disease may rarely cause infections in wounds and in other parts of the body including the heart. Old age; a history of smoking; the presence of chronic disorders like lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease or cancer; a weakened immune system; and having a job related to air conditioning systems-maintenance, are risk factors for this condition.

The Ayurvedic treatment of Legionnaires' disease is aimed at treating the basic infection and preventing complications like respiratory failure, kidney failure and septic shock. Medicines like Shwas-Kuthar-Ras, Tribhuvan-Kirti-Ras, Maha-Sudarshan-Churna, Sitopaladi-Churna, Talisadi-Churna, Ras-Sindur, Malla-Sindur, Sameer-Pannag-Ras, Abhrak-Bhasma, Shrung-Bhasma, Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa), Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum), Kushtha (Saussurea lappa), Kulingan (Alpimia galangal), Som (Ephedra vulgaris), Karkatashrungi (Pistichia integerima), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra) and Vasa (Adhatoda vasaka) are used to treat fever and lung infection.

Medicines like Vasa, Naagkeshar (Messua ferrea), Laxa (Purified wax) and Sphatik-Bhasma are used to prevent hemoptysis. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can be treated using medicines like Laghu-Sutshekhar, Praval-Panchamrut, Sutshekhar-Ras, Shankh-Vati, Kutaj-Ghan-Vati and Panchamrut-Parpati. Confusion and mental changes can be prevented using medicines like Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) and Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani. Respiratory failure and septic shock can be treated using medicines like Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Shrung-Bhasma, Maha-Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Abhrak-Bhasma, Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) and Makardhwaj-Ras. Kidney failure can be treated using medicines like Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Saarivadi-Churna, Gomutra-Haritaki and Chandraprabha-Vati.

Legionnaires' disease may be fatal, especially in the presence of a weakened immune system. Prompt and aggressive hospital treatment is therefore very important in the management of this condition. Ayurvedic medicines may be given as additional therapy to improve the therapeutic response and prevent complications. It is equally important to prevent outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease by meticulous cleaning and disinfection of water systems, pools and spas.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com The online clinic offers Ayurvedic treatment for all chronic and refractory health problems. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi uses high quality herbal extracts in tablet form, which are easy to take, effective and safe for long-term use. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., has clinical experience of 24 years and clinical research experience of 10 years. He has conducted extensive research in HIV infection, Schizophrenia and many other chronic diseases.