Clinical features
There is an incubation period of 2 to 10 days. Possible clinical features include:
- abrupt onset of malaise, headache, myalgia and weakness
- fever with rigor and temperature up to 40 degrees C appear 24 hours later after onset
- cough - initially dry; becomes productive in half of patients; may be haemoptysis
- half of cases develop gastrointestinal symptoms - nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain
- altered mental status - including confusion, lethargy, disorientation, hallucinations, depression, or coma
- cranial and peripheral neuropathy not uncommon
- crackles and consolidation - but the physical findings are mild compared to the radiological appearances
- haematuria and occasionally, renal failure
Complications may include:
- lung abscess
- empyema
- shock & hypotension
- rhabdomyolysis
- DIC
- TTP
- renal failure
- Brady MF, Sundareshan V. Legionnaires' Disease. StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan.
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