Summer season: what is legionellosis and how dangerous is it?
Last reviewed: 22.11.2021
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The summer efforts associated with the use of compost and standing water are very dangerous in terms of legionellosis. It is a microbial infection that penetrates the human respiratory system and even leads to death.
The causative agent of the disease is the legionella pneumophila, which is usually present in small lakes and artificial reservoirs, or even in ordinary storage tanks with standing water. Infection with a microbe is possible by inhaling or swallowing bacterial contaminated microparticles. There are known cases of the disease after using contaminated water for a summer summer shower, after bathing in ponds.
Bacteria can be found almost everywhere, where there are artificial water storage tanks or irrigation systems with infrequent use.
The best conditions for the development of the microbe are the temperature regime from +20 to + 45 ° C, - that is, the usual summer dacha season.
The most susceptible to infection are people who have bad habits like smoking or alcohol abuse, as well as patients with chronic lung diseases.
The American health system annually fixes about five thousand patients with legionellosis. However, more than a thousand patients, unfortunately, can not be saved.
In our country, such statistics are not maintained. This can be explained by the lack of reagents for laboratory diagnostics. Therefore, in many cases, legionellosis is simply not identified, but is taken for common inflammation of the lungs.
By the way, for the diagnosis of the disease requires the implementation of ELISA and PCR studies.
The microbial pathogen of legionellosis is an "amateur" of compost storage and well-fertilized land.
The bacterium can enter the body through the respiratory or digestive pathways.
The main risk factor is gardening, work with land and compost fertilizers.
Experts say that the best way to prevent the entry of a microbe into the body is thorough washing of hands under running water with the use of detergents after each contact with fertilizers. The use of special respiratory masks did not justify itself.
American scientist Dr. Priest advises: "When starting dacha work, do not ignore the observance of simple hygienic rules. Be careful when in contact with compost materials. If your immunity is weakened, or you suffer from chronic diseases of the respiratory system, it is prudent to give up the risk and not use composting or standing water for washing or watering. "
"If you open a bag with compost, try to remove it as much as possible from yourself. Do not try to assess the smell of mass, keep it at a distance. You should wash your hands at the end of work: you should not touch your face with dirty hands until this time, "the doctor warns.
At the first signs of the disease - and this is an increase in temperature, pain in the head and muscles, coughing - you should immediately see a doctor. If the bacterium enters the body through the digestive tract, nausea, diarrhea and impaired appetite can occur.
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