Legionnaire’s Disease Symptoms

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrive in warm water systems such as hot tubs, cooling towers, and large plumbing systems. Infection occurs when individuals inhale small droplets of contaminated water, often in places like hotels, hospitals, office buildings, or gyms. Because the disease can mimic other respiratory illnesses and worsen quickly, recognizing the symptoms early is critical.

Early Symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease

Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease typically begin 2 to 10 days after exposure to contaminated water. Early signs often resemble the flu and may be mistaken for less serious illnesses, which is why timely diagnosis is sometimes delayed. Common initial symptoms include:

• High fever: Often exceeding 104°F (40°C)
• Chills: Accompanying fever and signaling systemic infection
• Muscle aches: Widespread pain or soreness, especially in the legs and back
• Headache: Persistent and sometimes severe

These early symptoms can last several days and gradually progress into more intense respiratory and systemic symptoms.

Advanced Respiratory Symptoms

As Legionnaires’ disease progresses, it attacks the lungs more directly. Patients typically develop serious respiratory issues, such as:

• Cough: Usually dry at first, but may become productive with mucus or blood
• Shortness of breath: Increasing difficulty breathing, especially during activity
• Chest pain: Can be sharp or pressurelike and worsens with coughing or deep breaths
• Rapid breathing: Often caused by decreased oxygen levels in the blood

These respiratory symptoms are indicators of pneumonia and require immediate medical attention. Untreated, Legionnaires’ disease can lead to respiratory failure.

Gastrointestinal and Neurological Symptoms

Unlike many other forms of pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease can also cause gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, including:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Confusion or delirium
• Mental fatigue or changes in mood

These symptoms reflect the body’s widespread inflammatory response to the infection and may indicate more severe disease, especially in older adults or individuals with weakened immune systems.

Potential Complications of Legionnaires’ Disease

If not treated promptly and effectively, Legionnaires’ disease can lead to serious and sometimes fatal complications. These include:

• Respiratory failure: The lungs may stop functioning properly, requiring mechanical ventilation.
• Septic shock: Widespread infection can lead to dangerously low blood pressure and organ shutdown.
• Kidney failure: The infection may impair kidney function, potentially requiring dialysis.
• Multisystem organ failure: In severe cases, multiple organs can be affected, leading to a high risk of death.
• Long-term fatigue and lung damage: Even after recovery, many patients experience months of fatigue, breathing problems, and diminished quality of life.
• Death: The CDC estimates that about 1 in 10 people who contract Legionnaires’ disease will die from the infection, a figure that rises to 1 in 4 in healthcare-associated cases.

Prompt antibiotic treatment significantly reduces the risk of complications.

How a Lawyer Can Help If You Contract Legionnaires’ Disease

If you have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, especially after staying in a hotel, hospital, apartment complex, or other facility with a large water system, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced Legionnaires’ disease attorney can help you:

• Identify the Source: Work with public health investigators to determine where and how you were exposed to Legionella bacteria.
• Gather Medical and Environmental Evidence: Collect documentation proving your illness was connected to a specific water source.
• Prove Negligence: Establish that the property owner or business failed to properly maintain their water systems or ignored safety guidelines.
• Pursue Compensation: Seek financial recovery for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in some cases, long-term disability or wrongful death.

To discuss your case in a free consultation with a trusted Legionnaires’ disease attorney, call The Lange Law Firm, PLLC today at (833) 330-3663 or message us online.