What is it?

Legionnaires’ Disease

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe bacterial infection of the lungs and respiratory tract that can sometimes be fatal if not treated correctly. 

Symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease

The symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease are often similar to pneumonia. The symptoms appear two to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms include:

• headache
• muscle pain
• chills and/or fever
• shortness of breath and/or chest pain
• fatigue
• cough
• loss of appetite
• nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• confusion or other mental changes

For a complete list of Legionnaires’ Disease symptoms and recommendations on when to contact a physician, visit the Mayo Clinic website.