Legionella facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Legionella
Legionella sp. under UV light
Scientific classification
Unrecognized taxon (fix):	Legionellales
Family:	Legionellaceae
Genus:	Legionella Brenner et al. 1979
Species
Legionella adelaidensis Legionella anisa Legionella beliardensis Legionella birminghamensis Legionella bozemanae Legionella brunensis Legionella busanensis Legionella cardiaca Legionella cherrii Legionella cincinnatiensis Legionella clemsonensis Legionella donaldsonii Legionella drancourtii Legionella dresdenensis Legionella drozanskii Legionella dumoffii Legionella erythra Legionella fairfieldensis Legionella fallonii Legionella feeleii Legionella geestiana Legionella genomospecies 1 Legionella gormanii Legionella gratiana Legionella gresilensis Legionella hackeliae Legionella impletisoli Legionella israelensis Legionella jamestowniensis Candidatus Legionella jeonii Legionella jordanis Legionella lansingensis Legionella londiniensis Legionella longbeachae Legionella lytica Legionella maceachernii Legionella massiliensis Legionella micdadei Legionella monrovica Legionella moravica Legionella nagasakiensis Legionella nautarum Legionella norrlandica Legionella oakridgensis Legionella parisiensis Legionella pittsburghensis Legionella pneumophila Legionella quateirensis Legionella quinlivanii Legionella rowbothamii Legionella rubrilucens Legionella sainthelensi Legionella santicrucis Legionella shakespearei Legionella spiritensis Legionella steelei Legionella steigerwaltii Legionella saoudiensis Legionella taurinensis Legionella thermalis Legionella tucsonensis Legionella tunisiensis Legionella wadsworthii Legionella waltersii Legionella worsleiensis Legionella yabuuchiae

Legionella is a type of bacteria that can make people sick. These tiny living things are found all over the world. They are especially common in wet places like soil and water.

There are more than 50 different kinds, or species, of Legionella bacteria. They can cause two main illnesses. One is a serious lung infection called Legionnaires' disease. The other is a milder sickness, like the flu, called Pontiac fever.

How Legionella Got Its Name

The name Legionella comes from a real event. In 1976, a mysterious sickness spread among people. These people were attending a meeting of the American Legion. This group is for U.S. military veterans.

The sickness affected 221 people and caused 34 deaths. Doctors and scientists worked hard to find out what was causing it. On January 18, 1977, they found the answer. It was a new type of bacteria, which they then named Legionella.

Legionnaires' Disease and Pontiac Fever

Legionella bacteria cause two illnesses. These are Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever. Sometimes, both are called legionellosis.

Legionnaires' Disease: A Lung Infection

Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of pneumonia. Pneumonia is when your lungs get inflamed, usually from an infection. This disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria.

You cannot catch Legionnaires' disease from another person. Instead, people usually get sick by breathing in the bacteria. The bacteria can be found in tiny water droplets in the air.

Some people are more likely to get this disease. This includes older adults and people who smoke. Also, those with a weak immune system are at higher risk.

If not treated, Legionnaires' disease can be very dangerous. But doctors can treat it with special medicines called antibiotics. Even after treatment, some people might still have health problems.

Pontiac Fever: A Milder Sickness

The same Legionella bacteria can also cause Pontiac fever. This illness is much milder. It feels a lot like having the flu.

Unlike Legionnaires' disease, Pontiac fever usually gets better on its own. It does not typically need special treatment.

Staying Safe from Legionella

To help prevent these illnesses, people use disinfectants. These chemicals help to kill the bacteria. They are often used in water systems where Legionella might grow.

Images for kids

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  A Legionella pneumophila bacterium (green) caught by a Vermamoeba vermiformis amoeba (orange)

See also

In Spanish: Legionella para niños